Winona Health Volunteers honored with Minnesota Hospital Association award

The Winona Health Volunteers recently received a Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) Sustainability in Health Care award.

The Sustainability in Health Care Award recognizes outstanding efforts and achievements promoting sustainability within the hospital or health system. “Since 1894, our Winona Health Volunteers have been contributing to the long-term viability of Winona Health – that’s 130 years of being a vital part of our community’s healthcare system,” said Roderick Baker, Winona Health’s associate vice president of development.

Winona Health Volunteers provide thousands of service hours annually. They welcome patients and visitors at information desks; manage and operate the gift shop; deliver interoffice mail; conduct fundraisers, assist staff and residents in long-term care and primary care clinic areas, knit and sew gifts for patients and residents; give hand massages and rock babies. They also facilitate advanced directives sessions for community members, and hospice volunteers connect deeply with patients and their families.

Winona Health Volunteers awarded the MHA Sustainability Innovation Award.

In addition to contributing the proceeds from their Glady D. Miller Gift Shop in the hospital lobby to benefit patients, residents and families, Winona Health Volunteers plan and host fundraisers throughout the year. These fundraisers include the Basket Bonanza, Nutman, Fantasy of Trees and More and Holiday Happiness.

To put the funds they raise into action, Volunteers welcome departments throughout Winona Health to propose projects for funding up to $5,000. Each quarter, the Winona Health Volunteer board reviews these proposals and selects the projects they can fund. These projects directly benefit patients and residents. From a sustainability perspective, the Winona Health Auxiliary and today’s Volunteers have records of their donations going back nearly every year to 1910. Total donations, not adjusted for inflation, amount to over $2.5 million.

To learn more about the Winona Health Volunteers, including volunteer opportunities, visit winonahealth.org/volunteers, or call Kris Walters, volunteer services manager 507-457-4342.