Celebrating our Volunteers during National Volunteer Week this April

April 20–26 is National Volunteer Week! At BCH, we are proud to have 418 volunteers working to improve patient experience and quality of care. ​Volunteers from all walks of life and every local community choose to give their time and energy to Boulder Community Health. This week, we are highlighting five volunteers who represent different opportunities across the hospital system – the Canine Corps, the Volunteer Services Advisory Council, our college students, our longest serving volunteer, and our coffee cart volunteers.

Canine Corps

Brooke and Teagan have served as members of the Canine Corps since August 2023. Together, they’ve logged over 165 hours visiting staff and patients at Foothills Hospital, Cardio Rehab, and Sleep Diagnostics.

Did you know The BCH Canine Corps has been delivering smiles to patients, visitors and staff at BCH for 25 years? We currently have 40 dogs registered as volunteers and are recruiting for more to join our team! To learn more, visit bch.org/volunteer

“My favorite part of volunteering with the Canine Corps? Seeing the tension and worry drain from faces and replaced by smiles while petting Teagan,” says Brooke. “Volunteering at BCH has been a wonderful experience because BCH recognizes and values the benefits of therapy dogs. The hospital, Foundation, and Volunteer Services make me feel I am part of a team helping others—that’s why I recommend volunteering at BCH.”

Learn more about the BCH Canine Corps.

Volunteer Services Advisory Council

Darya has been serving as a gift shop volunteer since August of 2022, and recently joined the Volunteer Services Advisory Council. This focused group of volunteers invests their time strengthening our Volunteer Services program and ensuring efficiency and a positive experience for participants, patients and families.

Having served over 309 volunteer hours at BCH, Darya shares “I chose to volunteer at BCH because I wanted to be more involved in the community and make a positive impact on the community that I live in.”

Darya’s favorite part of volunteering in the gift shop is meeting the patients, volunteers, healthcare workers and patrons that visit the gift shop. She says “I have really memorable conversations with individuals and learned so much. I also really like being able to deliver flowers to patients in their rooms and talking with them. I would highly recommend others to volunteer at BCH because it is very rewarding, and you can gain so much experience and learn so much from volunteering in the hospital.”

Learn more about the Volunteer Services Advisory Council.

Student Volunteers

As part of our CU Student cohort, Jack has spent over 200 hours volunteering at BCH.

Jack serves as a volunteer in the Emergency Department and as an aide on 2 West, the Progressive Care Unit at Foothills Hospital. Fueling his interest in medicine, Jack's favorite part of volunteering is being able to help out the staff so that they have less on their plate, and the opportunity to learn about the interesting cases that come in.

“It's a great learning experience for students that opens you up to lots of opportunities and besides that it's lots of fun! The people you meet are great and its's very worthwhile” says Jack.

Our Longest-serving Volunteer

Jim has been volunteering at BCH since September of 1991. Working in mail delivery, X-Ray filing, rehabilitation lunch service, and the beverage cart, Jim has seen a little bit of everything. With over 3,386 hours given in services of BCH patients, staff and families, Jim’s primary goal is simply to connect with people. “Hopefully, I cheer up the patients,” he says. “It’s very satisfying.”

In 2009, Jim was awarded the Leo Hill Extraordinary Volunteer Award, and in 2015, Jim was recognized as Volunteer of the Year and received the “Green Blazer” and gold pin.

Beverage Cart Volunteers

Bobbie began volunteering in 2006, taking the beverage cart to all patient rooms offering patients and visitors coffee, tea or hot chocolate. She also trains all new Beverage Cart Volunteers to make sure the job is done right.

After retiring, Bobbie first began volunteering at a local hospital in recovery and loved working with patients directly. Once she moved to Boulder, she knew she wanted to keep volunteering in the same capacity. “I asked not to be given a job at a desk; wanted something where I could move around. I really like what I'm doing because there is interaction with the patients and their visitors,” says Bobbie.

Bobbie shares, “I would definitely encourage others to volunteer. It's very rewarding and a great use of my retired time!”