Contributed VOLUNTEERS ARE IMPORTANT — Mary Salter is a volunteer in the heart center at Trinity Medical Center West.

STEUBENVILLE — Monday was International Volunteer Day, an international observance mandated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985. According to the UN’s official website, IVD “celebrates the theme of solidarity through volunteering. This campaign highlights the power of our collective humanity to drive positive change through volunteerism.”

“There are many departments at Trinity Health System which benefit from volunteers,” said Lori Jennings, volunteer coordinator, volunteer services, at Trinity Health System. “Our volunteers currently service 22 different departments at our Trinity East, Trinity West and Trinity Twin City Hospital locations, and at the Prime Time Senior Center. All of the departments greatly benefit from our volunteers because of their dedication and commitment.”

While some volunteers are looking for something to do or for a reason to leave their houses, Jennings said the majority of Trinity’s volunteers are driven by a desire to help people.

“Our volunteers come into volunteering with a service-minded attitude,” she stated. “Our volunteers are dedicated to our patients and to our employees, and they want to be of service to the ministry in any way they are needed. They appreciate their opportunity to be able to volunteer and to share their time and experience and to lend a helping hand.”

The impact is a reciprocal relationship of compassion, empathy, generosity, building friendships, belonging and having a purpose, Jennings added.

Starting in October, Trinity welcomed Jefferson County Vocational School students to volunteer in work-based learning experiences.

“This is a chance for students to have interactions with a variety of specified tasks in their career field before they graduate,” Jennings said.

Volunteers choose to take time out of their lives to share with others. It can be a way to delegate time, to help with social contact, and to remain physically and mentally healthy.

“Volunteering is a way to show charity,” Jennings said. “Sometimes people want to give monetarily and don’t have a lot to give monetarily, but they can give their time.”

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, visit the Trinity Health System website, trinityhealth.com/volunteer, and submit an application or call (740) 283-7220 and Jennings will assist you with the application process.

“To volunteer is to show kindness from the heart,” Jennings said. “1 Peter 4:10 – ‘God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of gifts. Use them well to serve one another.'”