News

Virgina Martin
Volunteer
The Importance of Caring | my journey into volunteering

Virginia Martin loves many aspects about being a volunteer at Columbus Community Hospital. But what makes her smile the most is when she hears the lullaby that is played over the public address system when a new baby is born.

"I know there's a new generation starting," she said, "and it's a wonderful feeling."

Martin graduated from Albion High School in 1952 and attended Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska, to become a teacher. She went on to earn her master's degree from Kearney State University and taught school for 36 years - continuing to work as a substitute teacher for 20 years after she retired.

At the beginning of her teaching career, Martin worked in a couple of one-room schoolhouses. "It was an experience," she said. "I didn't have every grade in one room, because there weren't children in every grade. I might have a kindergartener, a first-grader, two third-graders and a fifth-grader. It was tiring, but I was young. I was up for it."

At her first one-room schoolhouse, Martin had to build a fire in the room before the children came. One boy rode a horse to school, and she had to help him get out of and into the saddle. "That was an experience and a half right there," she said.

After retiring from teaching, she needed something to do, so she and a friend decided to become CCH volunteers about 20 years ago. They were part of the group that started the hospital's annual butterfly release – a project that took a lot of organization, she said. "I've held many positions while being a volunteer over the past 20 years," she said.

"I've met many new people and learned and appreciated all the knowledge about what the hospital has to offer to the people of the community."

Martin's husband, Lenard, died nine years ago. But she still has four children and 13 grandchildren who keep her "busy learning all the names of the great-grandchildren," she said.

Of those family members, many work in healthcare: Martin's three daughters are an office worker in home health and hospice, a nurse in a dermatology officе and a tech at a hospital. One granddaughter is an occupational therapist, another granddaughter is an advanced practice registered nurse, one grandson is a neonatologist and another grandson is a nurse.

With allher family members in healthcare, Martin appreciates the opportunity to keep "in the know" about what's happening in the hospital world.

"Being a CCH volunteer has kept me interested in our health system and helped me meet many new friends," she said. "Plus, I get to wear the color green for my uniform!"

Aside from her volunteering duties, Martin has an active social life. She's a member of one group for widows and one that meets at a bagel shop in Columbus. She also is active at her church, St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, and works at Barbara Jean's dress shop in downtown Columbus. "They're really good to me," she said.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities available at the hospital, visit columbushosp.org.