Volunteer Profile Feature Story

volunteer
August 20, 2015

Sherron Nance: Downstate Versatile Volunteer

When did you start volunteering?

I have been volunteering my entire adult life. My retirement in 2008 from the Carbondale Middle School, where I worked for 24 years, has given me more options for volunteering. Since my retirement, I began singing in the church choir at the First Baptist Church in Carterville and I also volunteer at two local hospitals in Carbondale.

What prompted you to volunteer?

I have always had a heart to make people happy. Being a volunteer motivates me. I love to put smile on peoples' faces.

Tells us more about the two hospitals and the church where you volunteer?

Memorial Hospital of Carbondale

As a volunteer for the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale (MHC), I provide my time in the Pink Geranium Gift Shop. My duties in the gift shop range from operating the cash register and credit card machine, wrapping gifts, stocking shelves, pricing merchandise, providing customer service, assisting patients and visitors with direction, when needed. I also serve as a Vice President for Auxillary & Volunteer Program for MHC. As a Vice President for the Auxiliary & Volunteer Program, I am in charge of planning the Spring and Fall volunteer meetings that are targeted for up to approximately 60 people. The MHC Auxiliary that I am part of also works to raise monies to support a scholarship program. Through the auxiliary program, we sponsor six or seven local scholarships for full time students, who have been accepted into a medical or healthcare related field.

Herrin Hospital

As a volunteer for the Herrin Hospital, which is a sister hospital to MHC, I volunteer my time in the Gift Garden, which is their gift shop.

First Baptist Church in Carterville

As a volunteer for the First Baptist Church in Carterville, I lead the Sunday Adult Department in Sunday morning worship and devotion. I also visit the seniors that are affiliated with the church in their hospitals, nursing homes and skilled care units. I also help out the church by helping with the annual Christmas parties for their seniors. I also do a lot of cooking for my church; someone always needs a pie or two, chicken and dumplings or fried fish, which I catch, clean and fry.

Sherron Nance - Downstate Versatile Volunteer

How many hours do you volunteer?

I average about 60 hours per month at MHC. At the Herrin Hospital, I work a lot of weekends and  I average about 20 hours per month.

What do you enjoy the most about volunteering?

I enjoy everything about volunteering. I am 75 years old and I love to volunteer and help anyone I can. Volunteering gets me out of the bed every morning, gives me a reason to get dressed up and greet the world with a smile. If I can help one person have a better day because of me, my day was a success. People say smiles are contagious and I hope to cause an epidemic.

Does IMRF play a role in your capacity as a volunteer?

The volunteer article on the newsletter that I received from IMRF highlighted the importance of volunteering. It is important to communicate such things to retirees. I already knew about the wonderful benefits of volunteering but I was glad to see IMRF stress the importance of it. Also, my IMRF pension allows me to help others in need and it has also opened up new opportunities for me during my retirement.

If you were to win a staff donation of $1,000, how do you hope to utilize it for your volunteering program?

The $1,000 staff donation would go towards the MHC Auxiliary Scholarship Program. This donation would help individuals realize their career goals in medicine and the importance of giving back to the community.