By Whitney Vickers
XENIA — Dolores Alston keeps her mind busy and spends time with others during her volunteer shifts at Greene Memorial Hospital.
“I think this keeps my mind alert, being here and doing things,” said Dolores Alston.
Alston has served in multiple areas in her 25-years of service, including within the former hospital library and on home health care tasks, but currently spends her time helping out in the volunteer coordinator’s office.
“I enjoy being here and doing things to help with whatever is needed,” she said. “Today I worked on filling folders, putting address labels on envelopes and checking to make sure each name was on the envelope for a … gift from the office. I do filing, work some with the auxiliary sales throughout the year and sometimes I’m needed in administration to man the phones.”
The former teacher and reading coordinator for local school districts feels rewarded as she sees things come together and function swimmingly, and is happy to lend a hand in doing so. She feels that this attitude was ingrained in her from her parents, who she describes as individuals who cared for less-fortunate people. She earned her degree in social work, but was pushed to pursue teaching by her late husband instead, which she did.
But Alston said doing so has benefited the services she can offer GMH, as she can relate to others.
“I like to be around people,” she said. “I’m a widow, so it (volunteering) serves as an outlet to be with people and do things that are needed here.”
She formerly served the former Greene County American Cancer Society chapter, and felt drawn to do so after beating cancer 38 years ago. She said she is grateful for her survival so many years ago.
When she is not volunteering for GMH, she spends her time serving the Friends of the Greene County Library, the Xenia Senior Center front desk, Friends for Payne Seminary at Wilberforce University and as her church secretary.
“It’s been a part of my life to be there, be active and do things to make things better,” she said. “It’s just rewarding to me, the duties I do here — like today with the folders, labels and envelopes — seeing things come to fruition.”
