After a long 16 months, La Rabida’s crew of volunteers have officially returned to the Gem on the Lake! This month we welcomed volunteers back to La Rabida to support various teams across the hospital. From rocking and feeding infants on our inpatient unit and reading books to children in the outpatient clinic to assisting at our information desk and greeting visitors, our volunteers help make La Rabida a warm and inviting place. Many of our volunteers got involved at La Rabida simply to help care for our kids, while others wanted to find a way to give back to the institution that left an impact on their families.

Kimberly Gralen’s daughters were born with a condition called phenylketonuria, or PKU. This is a metabolic disorder that leads to a buildup of the amino acid called phenylalanine. As a result, both girls were placed on strict diets. Later, her oldest daughter was also diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. That is when Kimberly and her girls began visiting La Rabida. From regular doctor’s visits to serial casting, Kimberly and her daughters became very familiar with the Gem on the Lake.

Now, Kimberly’s daughters are grown and doing well.

“Claire, our younger daughter, is now a special education teacher in the city and invited me to be a guest reader in her classroom. Once I did that I had so much fun interacting with the kids that I really wanted to have a regular connection with children again. La Rabida was a great place for me to start because I was familiar with the organization and was grateful for what they have provided our family,” shared Kimberly.

Kimberly has been a volunteer at La Rabida for the last four years.

“I started in literacy, reading books to families in the clinic, and within six months added the visits to the inpatient unit because I wanted to have more connection with kids. I like holding babies, sitting with them, and reading to them,” explained Kimberly.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, La Rabida's volunteer program was temporarily put on hold. We are now excited to welcome volunteers back to the hospital.

“It feels so, so good to be back,” said Kimberly. “My kids are grown and I’ve really missed having the connection with children, especially the last year. I find that their personalities are just exquisite and that's what I missed the most.”

“I would encourage anyone who may be interested in volunteering to come join the team. I think that this is a community of people who are dedicated to improving the lives of children. I think they are gentle souls and are connected in their desire to help children and their families. It seems to me as the world gets crazier outside that this is a source and a wellspring of really good actions and good endeavors.” Are you interested in becoming a volunteer at La Rabida? Visit larabida.org/volunteer for more information.