Baton Rouge General Shows Appreciation for Volunteers’ 40,000 Hours of Service

Baton Rouge, La. – National Volunteer Week is April 16-20, and Baton Rouge General is recognizing the more than 450 volunteers who selflessly share their time and energy to support patients, families and community.

“We are fortunate to have generous and caring volunteers at Baton Rouge General,” says Symil LeDoux, Director of Community Engagement. “Their attentiveness to patients and guests is part of what makes BRG’s care so exceptional.”

Last year, 240 adults and 210 college and high school students generously provided more than 40,000 service hours in 16 departments across the Mid City and Bluebonnet campuses, including the surgery waiting room, gift shops, information desks, outpatient infusion, inpatient rehab, pediatric rehab, regional burn center, outpatient physical and occupational therapy and Arts in Medicine programs. In addition, the Volunteer Auxiliary donated more than $235,000 back to Baton Rouge General through fundraising and profits from the gift shops at Mid City and Bluebonnet in 2017.

“Hospital stays can be stressful, so I like to be a calm and pleasant presence for patients and guests,” says BRG Volunteer Auxiliary President Deborah Reeves, a volunteer for nearly 12 years. “I encourage anyone looking for ways to help in the community to contact Baton Rouge General. The community and compassion here are incredible.”

Yesterday, volunteers received tokens of appreciation at a special luncheon where WAFB news anchor Donna Britt served as honorary emcee for a fashion show with attire from Chico’s of Towne Center.

For more information about volunteer opportunities at Baton Rouge General, visit BRGeneral.org/Volunteer or call (225) 387-7079.

Photo: BRG Volunteer Auxiliary Past President Vickie Pernici and current President Deborah Reeves

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. Established in 1970, Baton Rouge General's Regional Burn Center is one of only 125 burn centers in the U.S. verified by the American Burn Association and plays an integral role in supporting other Gulf Coast states when the need arises. Baton Rouge General has been an accredited teaching hospital since 1991, with 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.