Kathie M. A volunteer with “St. Joe’s spirit”
Kathie Machida is one of close to 700 individuals who volunteer with St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Before coming to St. Joseph’s two years ago, Kathie worked as an Educational Assistant with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board and dedicated most of her volunteer hours to events related to her profession.
Now Kathie spends her time each week between the Urgent care and Surgery centre at the King Campus, and the Maternal Child Program at the Charlton Campus, “I always had an interest in the medical field and St. Joe’s was my first choice!” Kathie describes her shifts as “filled with compassion but also with laughter,” and that her favourite part about volunteering is, “the rewarding interaction with everyone – especially the patient comfort, I like to help them focus on better thoughts.”
Kathie also says that dedicating her time is a two way street and, “just by volunteering here I’ve learned so much from the staff, visitors, and the patients…they have so many interesting stories to tell.” She plans on staying committed to St. Joseph’s and believes everybody should volunteer because, “it completes the community and is all part of the spirit of St. Joe’s!”