giving back
CONNECTING IS
THE BEST MEDICINE
FARRAH ISRAEL
ENGLEWOOD HEALTH
Farrah Israel was afreshman in high school when she decided she wanted todosomething to benefit her community . She ’ d long wanted to volunteer at ahospital , so she applied to Englewood Hospital ’ s Junior Volunteer program that summer . Three years and 130 hours of service later , she says that her weekly contributions — this past year , her third , she came in every Thursdays for two hours — have made her feel like an honorary member of the staff . She helps out wherever she can , taking specimens to labs , transporting and discharging patients , putting together packages of supplies such as COVID tests , and bringing gifts to patients in their rooms .
But beyond that , she says , she has drawn satisfaction from her interactions with both staffers who share her mission , and the individuals in their care . “ My biggest advice is that you become the person that anyone and everyone is comfortable speaking to ,” she says .“ Whether that is afellow volunteer , staff , or patient , it will make your experience amillion times more rewarding .” Be genuine and show vulnerability , she says , and listeners will feel free to respond the same way .
She knows that the patients are feeling vulnerable just because they ’ re there . “ One time , Iwas delivering flowers to an older man with cancer , and he asked me who the gift was from ,” she recalls . “ Rather than just saying who the note was from , Ioffered to read the card as well . Isaw his face light up with happiness , and Irealized afterwards that it wasn ’ tjust the card that made him happy , it was the presence of another person who wanted to be there and chose to give back .”
Her coworkers have recognized her unique contribution to patient welfare , too : Israel , a Tenafly resident , is the 2024 winner of their Arlene Zweifler Junior Volunteer Scholarship . She will use the scholarship during her freshman year at University of Wisconsin , where she intends to major in political science .
PROVIDED BY ENGLEWOOD HEALTH & BERGEN NEW BRIDGE MEDICAL CENTER
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2024 EDITION ( 201 ) HEALTH