John J. Pershing VA Medical Center honors volunteers during National Volunteer Week

During a banquet to be held on April 21 at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, 16 volunteers will be recognized for the more than 36,146 hours they have contributed toward caring for Veterans, driving, directing, sitting, serving, comforting, and counseling on a regular basis.

“As someone who began volunteering at a young age, I see the immense value that our volunteers hold,” said John J. Pershing VA Medical Center Director Paul Hopkins. “Volunteers can do anything from providing transportation to and from appointments to assisting a veteran around campus without asking for thing in return.

“However, without our volunteers, needs would not be met and we would not be able to complete our mission.”

While National Volunteer Week kicks off April 16, VA is inviting everyone in the community to explore how they can use their skills and unique assets to thank Veterans with service of their own any time of the year. No medical experience is necessary, and volunteers are encouraged to share ideas how they would like to give back using their unique skills.

National Volunteer Week also presents an opportunity for other citizens to join the ranks of volunteers serving Veterans. There are many ways to volunteer. For instance, Jean Norris serves roughly 100 Veterans weekly in a variety of ways, such as offering them candy and items off her donation cart or simply sitting down and having a conversation with a Veteran to make them feel special. In addition, VTN/DAV volunteers drive on average 7,500 miles per month transporting Veterans, and more drivers are always needed.

“The last several years of the COVID-19 pandemic, plus associated restrictions, has had a huge impact on our facility to include our volunteers,” explained Dale Garrett, chief of the facility’s Center for Development and Civic Engagement. “Most of our volunteers are of a more at-risk age and they loved working with our nursing home Veterans. The combination of all this reduced our number of volunteers from about 140 pre-COVID to what we have now.”

Those remaining love serving our Veterans, Garrett noted.

“Please take the time to thank volunteers wherever you may be, and if you, or someone you know, may be interested in volunteering, we do have a need in our Volunteer Transportation Network/DAV for picking up Veterans and taking them to appointments, particularly in Farmington, Cape Girardeau/Sikeston, and Paragould/Pocahontas,” Garrett said. “We have other volunteer assignments as well.”

For more information on volunteering opportunities, the Center for Development and Civic Engagement office may be reached at 573-778-4276 or email at VHAPOPVoluntary-W@va.gov.

Lacey McClintock, Chief, Communications and Stakeholder Relations

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