Craig Volunteers

In a typical year, about 250 Craig volunteers provide nearly 20,000 hours of work, a much-needed resource for our patients, valued at around $505,000. But 2020 was different for volunteers at Craig. A global pandemic and the tightening of campus restrictions meant our volunteers weren’t on site like in typical years. Although we didn’t see our volunteers at Craig in the ways we normally do, they helped us through some challenging times. From sewing hundreds of masks to keep our campus safe to writing notes of encouragement, our volunteers were still able to continue cheering on our patients and staff in the midst of the pandemic.

In 2020, 55 non-patient contact volunteers helped with Craig’s Gift Shop, sewing needs, Rehabilitation Engineering and as patient visitor hosts, providing nearly 4,500 hours of volunteer work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we also had more than 270 clubs, organizations, restaurants and individuals donate everything from homemade masks, meals and quilts to inspirational banners, modified jeans, cookies and coffee. The impact of this generosity is impossible to measure since they are gifts that impact and improve morale throughout the house. “Craig Hospital is extremely blessed to have so many loving and caring volunteers, and we are excited to welcome them back with open arms when the time is right,” says Jill Stelley Virden, Director of Volunteer Services and Gift Shop.