Volunteer Faces

Patient Comments

Our volunteers are drawn from all occupations and backgrounds from throughout the world. These are some of their stories.

Approximately 60 percent are women and 40 percent are men
Ages of our volunteers range from 14 years to more than 90 years
Approximately 15 nationalities are represented including Indian, Polish, Russian, Canadian, Japanese, German, Chinese, Taiwanese and Estonian.
Some of our volunteers are college students
Nearly half our volunteers are retired from or currently employed by Mayo Clinic
Several volunteers are husband-and-wife teams
Some volunteers are spouses of current Mayo employees
Many volunteers are grateful former patients
All our volunteers are interesting, enthusiastic individuals

Ruth Bethel

I began volunteering at Mayo a few years ago primarily because it gave me a reason to get out of my apartment a couple of days per week and interact with other people. However, my activity at Mayo has grown into a whole lot more than just "getting out... Read Ruth's story.
Melissa Eggler

I love to see people' eyes light up when they see something they aren't expecting in the mirror. That is what I love about the patients at the Erickson Center... Read Melissa's story.
Bruce Halstead

I truly believe, without question, that I owe my life to the doctors and staff at the Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic Volunteer Services gives me the opportunity to serve and assist others... Read Bruce's story.
John Heinl

Helping people find their way through our medical center complex eases their anxiety over being in a new place. People are very appreciative of our efforts... Read John's story.
Phyllis Helgeson

I have been volunteering at Saint Marys since 1987, but more recently I have also been a patient. After being on the receiving end of someone's kindness and time, I realized how important the Auxilians were to the patients they assisted... Read Phyllis's story.
Wei-Ping Hung

Visiting may sound like a pretty simple thing to do, but frequently the simple things can mean so much... Read Wei-Ping's story.
Steve Kereakos

After my wife joined the Mayo volunteers, she suggested that I also get involved. As I thought about it, I realized that I had been a volunteer almost my entire life... Read Steve's story.
Don Kuschel

So just what do I do in the Emergency Department? Name it! Mostly I care about people in their time of need and do whatever I can do to make their experience in the ED as pleasant as possible. I try to make them feel that I truly do care... Read Don's story.
Sr. Dora Medina

There's a saying "If you want to be happy for one day, win the lottery. But if you want to be happy every day, volunteer to help others so they can also be happy." By volunteering as a patient visitor at Saint Marys Hospital and as a retired nurse and a foreign missionary nurse in Central and South America, my love and desire to help the ill continues to be fulfilled... Read Sr. Dora's story.
Elie Nygaard

Elie Nygaard works on Special Projects with the Rochester Methodist Auxiliary. Read Elie's story.
Marlys Perkins

My "good feeling" experience for volunteering in the Gift Shop happened to me one Tuesday morning... Read Marlys' story.
Jane Toddie

The relatives are so grateful to have a free cup of coffee, etc. provided for them. They call me "ray of sunshine"... Read Jane's story.