VA Volunteers
Youth Volunteer, Lauren Feierstadt, plays checkers with a Veteran.
Last October, somebody new took the reins of Voluntary Services; that was Kasie McIntyre. When Veterans or others volunteer at the VA Medical Center, they see Kasie first. Kasie welcomes them, gives them the proper training, and guides them to the best possible area of service. In Kasie’s words: “Each and every volunteer is a blessing.”
After the volunteers are trained by Kasie, they provide information, assist wheelchair bound patients in getting to and from their various appointments, help patients work the kiosks, or assist the Medical Center staff in various capacities. The VA volunteers have helped to elevate the Clarksburg VA Medical Center to being named a four-star facility. The time these volunteers spend visiting and assisting VA patients has helped make the facility a special place.
Kasie enjoys coming to work every day, meeting new people, facing new challenges, and learning new things. She is thankful to be leading such a splendid team.
A few of the volunteers that serve with Kasie are introduced below:
Lauren Feierstadt - Youth Volunteer
Lauren is an energetic young woman who is passionate about serving Veterans and the elderly. She is 15 years old, attends Grafton High School, and has been volunteering at the Clarksburg VA Medical Center for the past year and a half.
She is a person with broad interests and is involved in many different activities. Lauren is in Honors Classes, volleyball, plays alto saxophone in the marching band at GHS, enjoys drawing, painting, writing, photography, or just being creative. Believe it or not, she still has time to be a volunteer!
She certainly is an example of the saying, “If you want something done, give it to someone who’s busy.” Wow, is she busy!
Lauren’s favorite assignment is volunteering at the Community Living Center on the sixth floor. There, she can enjoy various activities with the residents: playing games, art, crafts, Wii, puzzles or sometimes just talking.
Lauren envisions a future in college and a career path where, as she says, “I can be an advocate for the elderly.” She has developed heartfelt relationships with several Community Living Center Veterans. Her service has been a maturing and soul transforming experience that will guide her decision-making for the rest of her life. Lauren will always be a scintillating star in the hearts of the Veterans, and she will carry their influence and guidance forever.
Wanda and Liddie pose by the Christmas tree during the Inpatient Christmas Party.
Wanda & Liddie
Wanda and Liddie are two octogenarians loved by the staff and patients alike. Wanda Russell and Liddie Freeman are well known to the Clarksburg VA Medical Center. Wanda has been volunteering here for 24 years and Liddie for 21 years.
Their jobs are to sort through and distribute donations, and numerous other jobs like – making coffee and bringing cheer to the Veterans, staff and other volunteers at the Clarksburg VA Medical Center.
These gals make a colorful team. For instance, you might see Wanda pushing Liddie on a cart through the halls – both of them singing! They visit hospitalized Veterans, inquiring about their well-being, asking about their families, and pets. Wanda and Liddie are two quick-witted souls, ready to respond to the needs of Veterans. They give of their time and leave us with a smile.
Dorothy A. Pigott
Dorothy A. Pigott is one of the very special people who gives her time to assist Veterans. She is a retired teacher who loves people, especially those who sacrificed for our great nation. Family is her first love, and she does love children, but especially her four children and nine grandchildren. Lucky for Dorothy, they live close by and frequently come to visit. Dorothy’s second love is her church. She volunteers at the school that she retired from and likes to read to preschoolers, first and second graders. She also enjoys working in her yard and caring for flowers. She reads often and enjoys a book club at the local library.
Dorothy’s family served in the Italian Campaign during World War II, and so she began serving our Veterans about four and a half years ago. At first, she was posted by the elevators on the second floor, but she has worked at the front desk for the past two years.
Dorothy enjoys traveling and at the end of May, she will be going to Ireland and Scotland to find her family origins.
Milton Sears at the 2016 Volunteer Recognition Ceremony
Phil Godwin
If you would like to meet a person whose ancestor was exiled by the King of England to the Carolinas, then look up Phil Godwin. The ancient spirit of Appalachia lives in this fellow. His grade school was a one room school with six grades, a potbellied stove for heating, and a spring that they would bring buckets of water from for drinking and washing. His school had only one teacher and she had no teacher’s aids or helpers.
Originally from Tucker County, his childhood was full of fun and adventure. He grew up playing with one of the earliest Hot Wheels car sets, played in the dirt under a chicken coup when it rained, and he built a club house out of stones that eventually rose to be three stories.
As a decent, hardworking individual, Phil is an adventuresome outdoorsman who likes hunting, hiking and fishing. Other interests include sports, gardening, coin collecting and reading history and adventure books. His favorite book is “Long Knife.”
He has two step-children, one boy and one girl, and he is proud that they are both hard working. He also has three granddaughters and one grandson who are in school. Phil has taught them all to set lofty goals and to struggle to achieve those goals.
He has been a volunteer driver for just over a year. Phil regards the Veterans as, “the salt of the earth.” He foresees a day when he may need help himself, as we all will.
Milton E. Sears, Jr.
Mr. Milton E. Sears has been a volunteer at the Clarksburg VA Medical Center for the past 22 years. He volunteers in the Diabetes Education Clinic on the sixth floor. Milton said that he volunteers because he likes assisting the Veterans.
He likes reading, and especially likes to read anything about the life and exploits of President John F. Kenney, and the Second World War. He enjoys movies - especially John Wayne movies. He also likes to play computer games.
Milton’s attitude towards the Veterans is, as he said, “I will do anything for the Veterans.”
Now that you have been introduced to a few of the volunteers, maybe you would like to be a volunteer at the Clarksburg VA Medical Center. For more information, please, contact Kasie McIntyre, Voluntary Service Specialist at (304) 623-7621 or (800) 733-0512 ext. 2474.
