Baton Rouge General Shows Appreciation for Volunteers' 35,000 Hours of Service

Baton Rouge, La. – National Volunteer Week is April 23-29, and to recognize the nearly 400 volunteers who selflessly share their time and energy to support Baton Rouge General’s patients, families and community, the hospital is hosting a week of volunteer appreciation events.

Last year, hospital volunteers generously provided more than 35,000 service hours in 21 departments across the hospital’s Mid City and Bluebonnet campuses, including the surgery waiting room, gift shop, information desks, outpatient infusion, inpatient rehab and pediatric rehab.

“The volunteers at Baton Rouge General are the most caring and gracious I’ve ever seen,” says Symil LeDoux, Director of Community Engagement. “We really can’t thank them enough for showing our patients and guests the kind of attentiveness that makes BRG exceptional.”

Last year, 188 adults and 207 college and high school students volunteered at BRG, and the Volunteer Auxiliary donated nearly $100,000 back to Baton Rouge General through fundraising and profits from the Gift Shop.

Throughout the week, volunteers have had opportunities to win giveaways and participate in Arts in Medicine activities. Volunteers were recently recognized at a special luncheon, where Eloise Shaw was inducted into the BRG Volunteer Services Hall of Fame for volunteering more than 25 years.

“I enjoy working with people, so I volunteer in the Surgery Waiting Room and help patients and visitors better understand what to do and where to go,” says 10-year volunteer and BRG Volunteer Auxiliary President Deborah Reeves. “My husband had a long hospital stay, so I understand the importance of people being pleasant during this time. I encourage anyone looking for volunteer opportunities to check out Baton Rouge General. This is a true Community of Caring.”

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities at Baton Rouge General, visit our Volunteer page or call (225) 387-7079.

About Baton Rouge General Medical Center

Baton Rouge General Medical Center is the area’s first community hospital with 588 licensed beds between two campuses. Baton Rouge General opened its doors in 1900, and has provided the Greater Baton Rouge community with high-quality healthcare for generations. An accredited teaching hospital since 1991, Baton Rouge General serves as a satellite campus of Tulane University School of Medicine, and offers other medical education programs, including a School of Nursing, School of Radiologic Technology, Family Medicine Residency Program, Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. For more information, visit BRGeneral.org, find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/BatonRougeGeneral and follow us on Twitter at@BRGeneral.