This guest blog comes from Isabella Birnie, Development Assistant and volunteer liaison at Mosaic. Isabella earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a Minor in Nonprofit Development and Administration from Boise State University. She joined Mosaic in early 2021.
In April of this year, Mosaic launched a volunteer program to assist with COVID-19 vaccination efforts at our Courtney Clinic. We partnered with Deschutes County, Volunteers in Medicine and First Interstate Bank to get the huge effort off the ground.
There were 12 volunteers onsite for each of the 35 vaccination clinics held at Courtney. Over a quarter of participants volunteered more than once, with some coming in multiple times a week. In total, volunteers filled more than 500 shifts.
Volunteers handled excited, nervous, worried, and ecstatic patients with grace. One volunteer reveled in witnessing the sheer joy and excitement that the vaccination brought to recipients. This included young people who could resume socializing with friends and grandparents finally able to visit new grandchildren, for example. Other volunteers enjoyed donating time for deeply personal reasons. One volunteer said they connected to “The mission – being a part of the most important effort at the moment in our county (and country).”
Thank you to volunteers from Mosaic Staff
Below are comments to volunteers from Mosaic staff who worked directly with them:
“We could not have been more grateful to all of the wonderful volunteers! All of you were always energized and spoke kindly to the patients and staff. Everyone was quick to change and adapt as we perfected workflows. Without each and every one of you I’m certain our vaccine clinics would not have been as successful.” – Amanda King, Medical Assistant Supervisor
“Thank you all so much for taking the time to help us at the COVID-19 vaccine clinic. It was always nice to come in and see your smiling faces. We couldn’t have done it without you all!” – Cori Burger, Medical Assistant
“‘Many people, in little places, doing little things, can change the world.’ (Eduardo Galeano) Thank you to all the volunteers for helping us fight the COVID-19 threat. We could not have done it without you!” – Atziri Calderon Nunez, Medical Assistant.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a Mosaic volunteer, email [email protected] or click here to fill out the application.
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