Photo by Rex Bavouett. Ameche encourages staff and faculty to volunteer. Perhaps it's because she started out as a UIHC volunteer herself when she worked at a campus job on the east side of the river. Volunteer positions can be matched to a working schedule, with evening and weekend times available. One of the most convenient ways to contribute time, Ameche suggests, is to volunteer over a lunch hour once a week.
Volunteers do a lot both behind the scenes and center stage to serve patients and their families.
Step off elevator F on the 8th floor, and there's little hint that you're in a hospital. The center was designed as a place for patients, their families, and the staff to get away from all things medical. A spacious lounge opens up with a grand piano and comfortable furniture arranged in small conversation groups. Rooftop Refreshments, staffed by volunteers, offers gourmet coffees, sandwiches, and snacks. There's a patients' library stocked with adult and children's books, periodicals, books on tape, and videos.