San Andreas, CA…The month of April is dedicated to honoring all the volunteers in a community and encouraging volunteerism overall. Mark Twain Medical Center Foundation honored the hospital volunteers with an appreciation lunch on April 16th. With the theme “Volunteers Plant the Seeds of Kindness” the event highlighted their many hours spent spreading kindness throughout the hospital and family medical centers. The hospital benefits from 26 human volunteers and three pet volunteers who contributed a combined total of more than 5,100 hours of service annually.

“An active volunteer program is important to a hospital. Data supports that their participation in patient care improves patient experience scores, reduces hospital re-admissions, and increases employee satisfaction,” shares Kathrine McCoy, Chief Nurse Executive at Mark Twain Medical Center. Mark Twain Hospital Volunteers can be found at the information desk, staffing the hospital gift shop, assisting in medical records and visiting patients and families in the emergency department and medical/surgical wards. Each Tuesday, many volunteers gather at Workshop where they focus on crafting items for their bi-annual bazar.

The volunteers host craft bazars, bake sales, and receive a portion of revenue from purse, shoe and book sales held periodically at the hospital. These funds, and direct donations, support the volunteer’s Scholarship Program for area high schools and children of MTMC employees. To donate to the volunteer’s fund, or another area of the hospital, donors can visit www.supportmarktwain.org or mail gifts to Mark Twain Medical Center Foundation, 768 Mountain Ranch Road, San Andreas CA 95249. For more information about volunteering or supporting the Foundation please call Julie Eckardt-Cantrall at 209-754-2624 or via email at Julie.eckardt@dignityhealth.org

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