5 minute read
Mason County youth shine as Mason Health Volunteers
When Verity Adams first joined Mason Health as a concierge volunteer at Mason Clinic on a temporary basis in November 2023, she expected the role to be just one more perfunctory requirement for school.
After six days, she realized that not only did she love spending time with the patients and staff at Mason Clinic, but that she also wanted to change career paths — instead of pursuing her studies to be a mortician, she plans to start a career at Mason Health.
“Volunteering at Mason Health has taught me that I love working one-on-one with people,” she said. “On my first day, I didn’t expect to enjoy it, but I loved it immediately.”
“As a concierge volunteer, I work right by the doors, so people are always filtering in and out. I love talking to all of them. It feels so good, to spread kindness and sensitivity to everyone and to offer a helping hand to whoever needs it.”
Adams was eager to return to volunteering at Mason Clinic, and she restarted in January. She joins a new cadre of younger volunteers who are finding a huge benefit to volunteering at Mason Health, whether at Mason Clinic as a concierge volunteer or at a Mason Health office or event.
Having a diverse group of volunteers, including in age, helps Mason Health connect to more patients, said Mason Health Volunteer Coordinator Iris Hilburger. Both established and new volunteers see the benefit in working together, she added.
“Our older volunteers have shared with me that the younger volunteers have enriched their experience,” Hilburger said. “I play a different role with these younger volunteers and often have the chance to mentor them in their careers. They often bring different skillsets to Mason Health, as well. I find it very fulfilling.”
For example, Mason Clinic concierge volunteer Bryan Lorenzo Temisqueño can speak multiple languages, which has been a benefit to patients coming through the door.
“I have realized all the great help I can provide in my community by being bilingual and helping out patients with language barriers,” Lorenzo Temisqueño said.
“I can help give them the right instructions they need to find the medical help they need.” Lorenzo Temisqueño also took to heart some advice Hilburger gave him: “If you see a need, be the need.”
“I help out the front staff with small tasks like taking certain documents to another department or helping out patients that need help finding another department in the clinic,” he said. “Pushing elderly members in wheelchairs and aiding them in ways they may need makes their experience at Mason Health much more comfortable.”
Lorenzo Temisqueño decided to volunteer at Mason Health because he wants to pursue a career in the medical field. His Shelton High School counselor, Career Center Specialist Jill Bourgault, helped connect him to volunteer opportunities at Mason Health.
“When students volunteer, they develop life skills and become wellrounded individuals,” Bourgault said. “By starting young, it provides an opportunity to learn and grow into valuable members of society. Volunteering builds empathy and connection. Spending time helping others helps build compassion in a way that’s hard to replicate.”
“The partnership with Mason Health is invaluable to our students to, as it connects them with our community in a way that they might not have been able to before,” she said.
“The whole team at Mason Health is so enthusiastic about investing in our kids. It’s been amazing to be able to collaborate and make plans together that will have a great impact on our community.”
Lorenzo Temisqueño plans to study epidemiology with a full-ride scholarship at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, in the fall. Bourgault is always looking for new ways to connect students with community service.
Students do not have to be pursuing an interest in the clinical side of health care to volunteer at Mason Health — volunteer Lindsey Ozuna,
who graduates from Shelton High School this spring, has gained invaluable experience as a volunteer for Mason Health’s Development Office.
Ozuna was interested in the business side of health care, and in her time at Mason Health, she’s learned about fundraising and donor databases and helped out with events such as Mason Health’s Trunk-or-Treat and the Mason General Hospital Foundation Business Luncheon fundraiser.
“This position has taught me everything from time management to helping me with my social skills,” Ozuna said. “Before coming here, I thought health care was all clinical. This is helping me choose the path I want to be on. I have also loved learning more about the community.”
Ozuna plans to study business administration and public health at the University of Washington or Gonzaga University. She’s grateful to everyone who has helped her get this far.
“I would encourage anyone to volunteer. Mason Health and Iris help you fit it into your schedule. It will teach you about the workforce and what it looks like to work. It’s a way of networking. You may end up getting to know your future coworkers.”
“Coming from a family that immigrated from Mexico, I feel very motivated to learn as much as I can and finish my studies,” she said.
