Hospital Gift Shop Seeks Volunteers

BIDMC Contact: Jane East
Phone: 781-453-5499
Email: mpantridge@bidneedham.org

The Gift Shop at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham is seeking volunteers to help staff the shop after a renovation is completed in January.

Gift Shop volunteers help raise funds for the hospital and provide an important service to patients, families, hospital employees, physicians and other members of the hospital community. Typically, they work one or two three-hour shifts per week, helping customers select purchases and ringing up sales. They may also open or close the shop depending on the shift.

In addition, volunteers are needed to help with enjoyable ongoing activities such as buying merchandise, promotion, inventory, merchandising and other functions.

"We are renovating the Gift Shop to improve our ability to display merchandise," said Pat O'Neill, chair of the Gift Shop Committee. "When we reopen in January, we'll offer a number of exciting new merchandise lines in addition to the traditional ones for which we are well known. We are also planning to expand our hours to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday."

Jane East, the hospital's director of volunteers, said, "The changes that are taking place at the Gift Shop make this a great time to get involved as a volunteer. It's the perfect way to make a contribution to an important community institution while having fun and making new friends."

Ms. East noted that the hospital is deeply indebted to two Needham residents, Nancy Wetherell and Marjorie McLaughlin, who recently stepped down as co-chairs of the Gift Shop under the aegis of the Hospital Aid Association. The Hospital Aid will be disbanding Dec. 31. "Through the Gift Shop, the Aid has raised thousands of dollars for the hospital," Ms. East added. "This was possible because of Nancy and Marge's leadership and the dedication of the volunteers who work in the shop day in and day out," Ms. East said.

The Gift Shop, located just inside the hospital's Glover Administration Building near the recently renovated Glover Café, sells cards, candy, jewelry, gifts, Vera Bradley bags and personal items. During the holiday season, a clearance sale will help pave the way for a renovation that will take place in early January.

If you are interested in volunteering at the Gift Shop, please call Jane East at 781-453-5499. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Volunteers receive free lunch in the employee cafeteria and may park for free in the hospital's employee parking lot. They are trained by other volunteers and staff.