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includes a program for adults and teenagers, known as the
junior volunteer program. The majority of the teens volun-
teer during the summer when school is out. For the junior
volunteers, it gets them out in the community and used
to working with people, kind of like an internship. The
seniors fill in the rest of the time, helping out all over the
hospital. Throughout the week, there are approximately 35
volunteers who work in the hospital in different capacities
from 30 to 40 hours a week.
“We value the Senior Circle and volunteer programs
at Weatherford Regional,” said David Orcutt, president
of Weatherford Regional Medical Center. “Senior Circle
keeps us connected to our community and to our patients
by providing a fun and educational social network. The
volunteer programs bring a great perspective, comfort,
and a personal touch to the patients they encounter. The
junior volunteer program provides a great opportunity for
workplace experience and allows us to invest in our future
healthcare professionals.”
Jarquot has been volunteering since 2002 and currently
volunteers in the hospital lobby on Monday mornings. She
has donated over 2,200 hours of her time to the volunteer
program and loves it.
“I love giving back a little, and meeting the people,”
she explained. “All it takes is one thank you to offset all
the negative you hear. Since I volunteer at the front lobby,
I get to greet all the people coming in. I enjoy it. It makes
you feel good when you are appreciated.”
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Wanda Brian, 97, has been a pivotal member of the
Senior Circle and its volunteer program. Brian had a horri-
ble car accident in December of 2016 that caused her to
have to stop driving, and to stop volunteering. She misses
volunteering and her friends at the Senior Circle, and
cherishes her memories from that organization.
“I had stopped teaching and I had a chance to give
back to the city because it had been real good to our
family,” explained Brian. “I know that sounds like a book
or something, but that’s just the way I felt about it. And
besides that, if I was not teaching I had some time to
do things and I had always wanted to volunteer at the
hospital. The problem was I had seen an article in the
Fort Worth paper; they had volunteers in the Fort Worth
hospital as rocking grannies and they were in the newborn
section and I was like, that’s what I want to do. I stopped
teaching in July of 1983, so I had a little traveling to do
before, but January of 1984 is when I started volunteering
at the hospital.”
The Senior Circle and volunteer program continue
to thrive throughout the hospital. That being said, there
is always room for more members who wish to connect
with other seniors, members who want to engage in fun
activities and fellowship, or members who would like the
opportunity to give back to their community. If you are
interested in joining, whether it be the Senior Circle or
volunteer program, contact the hospital at (682) 582-1000.
They would be happy to have you.