The Mad River Community Hospital Volunteers, Inc., contributes to the health and well-being of our patients, staff and community in countless ways.

1. Assisting Patient Care & Comfort

To assist and advance patient care and comfort, the Volunteers, Inc., provides:

• New stuffed animals and other toys for all pediatric patients
• Coloring books and crayons for pediatric patients and children visiting the hospital
• Bibles, books and magazines for patients and visitors
• Daily newspapers for all inpatients
• Reading glasses, by patient request
• Comfort pillows for surgical patients, covered with cheerful pillowcases made by volunteers
• Special gifts for all inpatients to celebrate major holidays (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, etc.)
• Mad River Birth Center infant t-shirts to all babies born at the Birth Center
• Hand-knitted hats and booties for Birth Center babies
• Wheelchairs for patient use in hospital
• Televisions for waiting rooms
• Clocks for all patient rooms
• Baby diaper changing stations for hospital visitors
• Donated art placed in the hospital, with framing and safety glass funded by Volunteers
• Funding and labor to support the hospital’s Wellness Garden
• “Baby Track” program, which tracks childhood immunizations for babies born at the Mad River Birth Center

2. Providing Funds for Needy Patients

We also give financial support to low-income or indigent patients through:

• Emergency Resource Fund that provides patient financial support administered through the hospital’s Social Services office, available 24 hours per day for any patient who has an immediate need such as medicine, clothing, transportation, motel room, bus tickets, Dial-A-Ride tickets, etc.
• Financial assistance to low-income physical therapy patients with special needs, such as lymphedema wrappings or special therapeutic shoes
• Funds for special circumstances for any patient, i.e. clothes for newborns, help for visiting families from out of town, etc.
• “Clothing Closet” that provides sweatsuit tops and bottoms, in sizes toddler to 4X, for patients who need clothes to be able to leave the hospital
• New car seats for families who need them when leaving the Birth Center

3. Promoting Education & Scholarships

The Volunteers, Inc., supports education for patients, staff and local students in the following ways:

• Through the Community Health Advisory Board, offers a distinguished lecture series for patients and the community on topics such as breast cancer, diabetes, menopause, prostate health, eating disorders, hypertension, heart disease and more.
• Awards scholarships annually to College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State University nursing students
• Provides staff scholarships to hospital staff for continuing education and special training
• Awards college scholarships for Junior Volunteers graduating from high school
• Provides pre-med scholarships for undergraduate students as funding is available

4. Connecting the Community with the Hospital

There are countless other ways that the Volunteers, Inc., assists the community and the hospital. Our organization:

• Staffs bimonthly blood drives in cooperation with the Northern California Community Blood Bank.
• Provides volunteer-led hospital tours and goody bags for local school children
• Facilitates community music in the hospital, such as caroling groups at Christmas
• Facilitates donations to patients and the hospital, such as Halloween pumpkin donations by high school Interact Clubs, community donations of patient gifts, such as stuffed animals from local Avon representatives
• Accepts donations from community members, often for specific needs such as nursing scholarships
• Supports hospital staff morale by provides monthly celebrations and special events
• Promotes art in the hospital