What began with a skein of yarn and a mother’s deep love has turned into a decades-long mission of care and compassion at NMC Health.

In 2003, a Hesston woman picked up her knitting needles for the first time in years. Karen had read a brief announcement in the Newton Kansan calling for volunteers to knit baby hats for newborns at the hospital. Inspired by memories of her own son, who had many surgeries during infancy in hospitals due to congenital heart defects and always left with a handmade cap, she began knitting in his memory. More than 500 baby hats later, her legacy continues to warm the heads (and hearts) of new families.

But that was just the beginning.

When Karen learned that hospital volunteers were also crafting stuffed animals to comfort children during visits, she knew she could help. For volunteers who had trouble cutting fabric, she stepped in and donated material from her own collection and cut more than 700 animal patterns to be sewn and stuffed.

Then in July of 2022, she took on what was supposed to be a “temporary” behind-the-scenes role in Patient Financial Services. At the time, Karen answered the call for a six-week volunteer placement – and has stayed ever since.

Each Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, Karen slips into a quiet routine of sorting, folding, stuffing, and double-checking patient statements. “I enjoy the routine,” she says.

Though she doesn’t work side-by-side with many, she’s met “some very wonderful people in that office who are extremely kind and compassionate in dealing with customers concerning their bills, and very knowledgeable in answering their questions.”

To those considering becoming a volunteer, she offers this simple advice: “Just give it a try.”

“Volunteering is good for your mental and physical health,” says Karen. “It’s a way to connect with people. And at NMC Health, there are so many ways to get involved. Whatever your time, talents, or interests, there’s something you can do that truly makes a difference.”

“There are many, many areas where volunteers are needed and used in the hospital,” she continues. “Any of the jobs that volunteers do are things regular paid employees could do and would have to do if there were no volunteers. Volunteers doing some for these jobs just give the ability for nurses and other staff time to take care of other work needing to be done.”