CityView Magazine

42 November 2022 Volunteering and community events e hospitals throughout Cape Fear Valley Health depend heavily on volunteers to help in areas such as pastoral care, senior health services, cancer care and the neonatal intensive care unit. e health system relies on more than 125 volunteers who provide more than 11,275 hours of support annually. While this number may seems large, there is always room to grow. e health system is still hoping to return to pre-COVID numbers. "One area we are currently working to enhance is our NICU Cuddler program," says Kristen Coggin, MD, neonatologist in Cape Fear Valley Medical Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Cuddlers are volunteers trained to rock and hold babies in the NICU. e extra contact can help facilitate the infants' development, both socially and physically. Volunteers are also needed to help plan and conduct fundraising events, such as the Step Up 4 Health & Wellness Expo. e 2023 Step Up 4 Health & Wellness Expo will be April 15 and includes a 4K and a one-mile walk. Aerward, a free expo will host more than two dozen hospital service lines and showcase community resources. "is event is expanding on the Ribbon Walk for Cancer, which supported the Friends of the Cancer Center,'' says Carpenter. "It allows for registration fees to be routed to the Cancer Center, among other areas such as pediatric endocrinology, heart care, children's services and more." An event of this scale takes planning and able-bodied volunteers. ose who are interested in helping should call the foundation at 910-615-1285. ose looking to volunteer at the health system, can call Volunteer Services at 910-615-6747 Other donations Another option is in-kind, or non-cash donations. "We collect teddy bears for children who are hospitalized," Brooks says. "We also collect puzzles or activity books for seniors who are in our rehab facilities for extended periods of time." Another project that has seen an uptick in donations is the Pillows for a Cause program. Two years ago, Alex Abbott Spearman of AHA Designs started donating coloring pillows with imprints and designs HEALTH Healthy giving Donations of time and money help hospital system care for the community BY JAMI MCL AUGHLIN W hen life is disrupted by the need for healthcare, Cape Fear Valley Health is there for the community with hospitals in Cumberland, Hoke, Harnett and Bladen counties. ose interested in helping Cape Fear Valley care for the community can do so in a multitude of ways, through monetary gis, in-kind donations, volunteering or even giving blood. "ere are so many ways you can give to healthcare, not only how you give, but areas that you can support," says Sabrina Brooks, vice president of Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation. "Everything you can give to healthcare makes our community better in all regards." e staff at Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation can help people who are interested in donating. ese are some of the ways people can get involved. You may be surprised to learn how few involve donating money. A convenient way to give blood is at Bloodmobiles and local blood drives at locations including schools, shopping centers and businesses. "Giving to healthcare is easy because there are so many ways to do it and you can impact so many different areas of care.'' Sabrina Brooks, vice president of Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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