Long Time Volunteer Retires
Mar
13
Written by:
3/13/2012 6:44 AM
Wilma Glendenning, CVIM says "Congratulations on your Retirement!"
When Wilma first heard about Community Volunteers in Medicine, it was before the clinic had even opened. But she knew right away that she wanted to sign on as a volunteer nurse. The fact that Wilma has been at CVIM from its beginnings to now—almost 14 years—is a testament to how rewarding she has found her volunteer work.
Wilma’s nursing career is anchored in service—most notably, service to country in the Navy Nurse Corps from 1956 to 1959. Over the years in her nursing role at CVIM, Wilma has continued to serve others, providing important patient services, from taking vital signs and blood draws to performing peak flows, EKGs, and vision tests. Wilma credits Judy Atticks and Jody Hill for helping to make her job so meaningful. “They are just wonderful people, and I can’t imagine how the clinic could run without them,” said Wilma. “And they always know what’s going on with the patients.”
It’s not just these remarkable women who have kept Wilma at CVIM over the years but also the dedication of all the people with whom she’s worked. It’s being around people who are helping others. It’s serving the local community along with staff and volunteers who share her values. It’s witnessing the improvement in patients’ serious health conditions that have resulted from the combined efforts of all the staff. “I get great satisfaction from knowing that I am making a difference in someone’s life and in their family’s lives,” noted Wilma.
In addition to the contribution Wilma has made as a nurse at CVIM, she has played a pivotal role in organizing the Hershey’s Mill annual cocktail buffet that raises funds for Judy’s Cookie Jar, which enables patients to access clinical services outside of CVIM. She is very proud of the fact that at this year’s 7th Annual party they raised $8,600, the largest amount ever.
What’s next for Wilma? First, an enviable month-long trip to the warmth of Florida, then spending more time with her 11 grandchildren. And then, maybe helping out a little in St. Agnes’ food kitchen (she evidently can’t help it—volunteering must be in her genes).
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Wilma’s many years of working tirelessly as a nursing volunteer at CVIM came to an end when she retired in February.
We gratefully thank her for 14 years of making a difference in the lives of patients coming to CVIM for healthcare, hope and healing!
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-interviewed by one of CVIM’s newest volunteers, Ruth Crawford