Bakersfield VA Clinic Bids Farewell to Long-time Volunteer
Employees at Bakersfield VA Clinic said their goodbyes to Air Force Veteran and volunteer Douglass Georgeson on June 7.
Georgeson had been volunteering at the clinic for a bit over six years.
George said he initially volunteered with the American Red Cross as part of a team that would assist families made homeless by fires or other emergencies. He enjoyed the work, but he was on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so he decided to find something a little friendlier to his schedule, which brought him to the Bakersfield clinic.
His volunteer service at the clinic began with him working as a greeter, where he said his great smile and good treatment of patients earned him a lot of praise from Veterans for making their day better as they were on their way out of the clinic.
He said he then began helping people check in at the kiosk, helping them get to where they were going and answering questions as he grew more familiar with the clinic’s operations.
He enjoyed working at the clinic because it allowed him to work around Veterans with similar concerns and issues, said Georgeson. The camaraderie he developed with his fellow Veterans has led to him having a lot of good friends.
He said during his initial stages, working with his fellow volunteers was a really big help and that he had learned a lot from them.
Georgeson said he also enjoyed working with the Medical Support Assistants at the clinic.
This was reciprocated by the employees he worked with.
“It was an honor and pleasure working alongside him,” said Enrique Gonzalez, Patient Services Assistant. “He always had a positive and an uplifting demeanor about him that was noticed by both staff and the veterans we serve. He will be missed, but we wish him the best of luck on his retirement. We cannot thank him enough for the time he gave to serve our community.
His plans after retiring include working on his health by focusing on his weight and walking in the mornings, visiting with his family more, such as the opportunity to host his grandchildren for a month this summer, and spending more time with his friends, he said.
He also had advice for anyone looking to volunteer with VA.
“To really appreciate volunteering at the VA, you need to appreciate the sacrifices that Veterans have made,” said Georgeson. “You should also treat people how you would like to be treated.
To learn more about how you can volunteer with VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, please visit www.va.gov/greater-los-angeles-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/A Greater Los Angeles Health Care | Veterans Affairs