Whoever you are and whatever your special strengths, you will be welcomed with open arms when you volunteer at St Mary's!

If you have a couple of hours to spare, please consider investing them in our patients. You don't need any special skills or knowledge to rock a baby to sleep, or play "peek-a-boo" with a toddler!

Our children's ward is full of babies and children who – for numerous reasons – seldom get a visit from their moms. Some have been abandoned, with no one special to give them the attention they crave.

It's a proven fact that babies who get lots of cuddles and attention thrive far more than those who don't - and our busy nurses simply don't have the time to play with the little ones and comfort them when they cry.

If you're handy with a pair of knitting needles, why not volunteer to knit jerseys and booties for our newborns? In fact, any way you can think of helping will be appreciated.

Professionals
Volunteers with professional qualifications – such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians or retired nurses – are also greatly appreciated. The majority of our patients are unemployed, have no medical aid and are unable to make more than a token payment – if anything at all – towards their care.

Having professional medical personnel offering pro-bono services really makes a huge difference to the level of quality care we can provide.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering, please give Sheena Hardiman a call on 031 717-1000 or email marketing@stmarys.co.za