Susan Zimmerman is a volunteer with Good Samaritan Medical Center where she works on expanding the volunteer program. Susan decided she wanted to continue to help her community after her 25 years of service as a member of the Department of Defense. As difficult as it can be at times, Susan enjoys trying to give patients a little bit of joy while they’re being treated in the hospital. Susan credits the positivity at Good Samaritan Medical Center that keeps her coming back. Susan attributes her time with the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. for her ability to deal with patients. She believes it takes compassion to keep our country safe, and she uses that same compassion when dealing with patients in the hospital. Susan’s interests outside of volunteering include golf and working with smaller companies to help them work with the Department of Defense. Her advice to those who may be interested in volunteering is that there isn’t a better opportunity to help others than volunteering your time.

 

 

Jacqueline Harris volunteers in the surgical waiting area at Good Samaritan Medical Center. Jacqueline’s responsibilities include checking the status of patients for families and friends while in surgery and keeping them abreast of how they’re doing while their loved one is being treated. Jacqueline is no stranger to Good Sam. Before she became a volunteer, she was a patient. Jacqueline was so impressed with the care she received, she decided she wanted to volunteer at the hospital. She always has paper and crayons in her desk drawer for kids to use while they’re waiting for a loved one who is in surgery. One time she had a family make homemade cards for their grandmother, and by the time she was out of surgery, she had multiple get well cards from her family. When Jacqueline isn’t volunteering, she enjoys needlepoint, painting, reading and baking. According to Jacqueline, when it comes to volunteering it’s important that you are part of a big picture to help others and you feel extremely valued.