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Schroeder enjoys volunteer work at Coffee ShopOne thing many of the volunteers at the New Ulm Medical Center have in common is they like to be around people. That was a big part of the reason Duane Schroeder began volunteering in the Coffee Shop approximately two years ago. “And I like to eat,” Schroeder laughed. He began volunteering at the medical center front desk and was then asked if he would consider serving in the Coffee Shop. He soon found that he enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the Coffee Shop. “It is always busy and you’ll find that a lot of volunteers like to be busy,” Schroeder said. “Being with the other volunteers and staff in the Coffee Shop is so rewarding. I really look forward to days when I volunteer there.” He usually volunteers three to four shifts a month, most often during the breakfast and lunch hours. “A lot of people who come in are surprised to find that the Coffee Shop offers breakfast,” Schroeder said. “On a busy day, we’ll make forty or more breakfasts.” Schroeder enjoys the variety in the Coffee Shop between taking orders from customers, collecting money, running orders out to the tables and whatever else may need to be done from moment to moment. The variety of people he gets to interact with is also a big plus. Schroeder said in general he is happiest when he is around other people and being in the Coffee Shop has certainly given him plenty of opportunities to make use of his outgoing personality. That’s why he feels that volunteering there has been as beneficial for himself as it has been for the facility. “When you are used to doing the same thing all the time, doing something new and different is very healthy for your longevity,” Schroeder said. “People find out when they begin volunteering that the path it takes you down is so rewarding and so important.” Schroeder credits his desire to volunteer and give back to the community to the influence his mother has had on him. One of his earliest memories, Schroeder said, was helping his mother deliver a Christmas tree and all the trimmings to a family who had fallen on hard times. As a male volunteer, Schroeder is in the minority at the medical center. Of the approximately 150 active volunteers, 18 of them are men. But, having men volunteer at the facility fills an important need, he said. “I think there’s a balance that men don’t always understand or do very well,” Schroeder said. “We often do pretty much the same routine, and to do something different is very healthy.” Volunteers work in many areas of the facility – the front desk, same day surgery, chemotherapy, the medical/surgical unit, coffee/gift shop, and other clerical duties.  Back to Health Edition |
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New Ulm Medical Center
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