Volunteering can help in healing

When Kay Ross' 17 year-old daughter, Peggy Lynn, died in 1975, as a result of a tragic illness, Ross did two things as part of her healing process. She went back to work and she started volunteering at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

"Volunteering is good for me mentally, and it's good for me to keep busy. Volunteering gives back to a person in so many ways," Ross said. "I have learned so much from other people and, hopefully, I have helped them. Also, volunteering has been a way for me to give back for the excellent care that was given to our daughter"

During the 30 years Ross has been at Lutheran General, she's given almost 13,000 hours of service to its patients, staff and visitors. Currently she's assigned to the information desk at the Parkside Professional Building, where she gives directions to visitors, looks up patient information on the computer and provides assistance in countless other ways. She's also assigned to the gastro-intestinal laboratory where she performs clerical duties and to the critical care family waiting area where she serves coffee and attempts to make the families as comfortable as possible.

Over the years, she has also served in the Service League office, as an aide on the nursing units and in the respite care and day care for older adults, where she visited, played bingo and even helped with some baking activities with the seniors.

A member of the professional staff expressed her appreciation of Ross' service when she wrote, "Kay is very sweet, and everybody enjoys working with her. God Bless her! She is very much appreciated by the families and the staff. She has a lot of pride in what she does."

Magda Scanlan, manager of volunteer services, praised Ross as being a "very committed, extremely reliable and steady volunteer who is a valuable addition to the volunteer department and to the Lutheran General staff."

Ross' concern for others also includes volunteering at the Center of Concern in Park Ridge where she performs clerical duties. In 2005, she was presented with the Senior Volunteer of the Year award by the city of Des Plaines in recognition of her hours of service at the Center of Concern. Her volunteer career has also included working at Stevenson School as a teacher's aide and volunteer tutor. She's active at Park Ridge Presbyterian Church, where she serves as a deacon and a Stephen Ministry volunteer, and is a member of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

Ross and her husband, Donald, have been married 61 years, and their family includes their daughter, Nancy Kubajak, and her husband, Edward; a son, Bruce, and his wife, Ann; five grandsons; one great-grandson and a great-granddaughter.

Her hobbies include reading, baking, movies and attending the theater, however she said that helping others is what she enjoys most.

For more information on the many volunteer opportunities in your community, contact The Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago at (847) 228-1320 or visit www.volunteerinfo.net.