Volunteering is rewarding to women
Two Uniontown women find personal rewards in volunteering at the Uniontown Hospital. For Theresa Gentilcore of Uniontown, volunteering at the hospital has been a way of making her wildest dreams come true.
Gentilcore wanted to be a nurse ever since her class visited Brownsville General Hospital in the seventh grade. But, in those days and coming from a family of eight, furthering her education just was not an option, Gentilcore said.
So at an early age, Gentilcore began feeding her longing by nursing her sick brothers and sisters back to health. She said her mother always told her she should have been a nurse.
Today, at age 81, Gentilcore says she feels like a nurse.
“I still feel like I’m fulfilling my dreams, in a different way,” she said.
Gentilcore began volunteering at the hospital in 1969, during a time when she said she needed an outlet.
“I had a lot of medical problems. I needed something to occupy my time.”
Thirty-three years later, Gentilcore continues volunteering four times a week.
“I’m still going strong,” she said.
Gentilcore and Betty Stein, a 35-year volunteer at the hospital, were recently recognized by the Uniontown Hospital Auxiliary at an awards luncheon for their many years of service.
They have the longest tenure of any volunteers currently at the hospital. Stein recently exceeded 11,000 hours of volunteering, while Gentilcore has exceeded 15,000 hours of volunteer service.
Other volunteers honored included Evelyn Mohney, 5,000 hours; Leah LaPresta, Martha Lou Taylor and Betty Walls, 4,000 hours; Betty Stefan and Carol Wilson, 3,000 hours; Cindy Adams, Ruth Coughenour, Marjorie Cramer, Josephine Gerba, Cindy Jones, Charlotte Klein, Edna Marker, Lois McDonald and Donna Wolfe, 2,000 hours; Irene Gerwig, Rosemary Jendral and Arlene Klinge, 500 hours; and Sara Petro and Anita Rotonto, 100 hours.
Both Gentilcore and Stein, 76, of Uniontown, help at the hospital and also participate in planning and organizing the auxiliary’s many fund-raisers, including the Festival of Trees and Basket Bonanza, to name a few.
Gentilcore said it was nice to be honored and recognized for her work.
“It was very nice. I’m thankful to be recognized. It’s fulfilling to know you’re appreciated,” she said.
Jackie Bartoni, director of volunteer services at the hospital, said the volunteers there are very appreciated. “Volunteers are very important. Management feels volunteers are invaluable. The volunteers at the hospital add a special dimension of care and services to the hospital, to the patients, visitors and staff,” Bartoni said.
Both Gentilcore and Stein said they don’t volunteer for the recognition, though.
“I don’t do it for all that,” Stein said. “I just find it’s rewarding.”
“I don’t only do it for myself; I do it for the people,” Gentilcore said.
Bartoni said the hospital has 200 active volunteers, adult and junior, from ages 14 to 18. She said there are 50 assignments within the hospital, which primarily include assisting the staff with clerical work and charting.
Stein, who Bartoni describes as a wonderful person with a great personality, works in the gift shop. She makes silk-flower arrangements that are sold in the gift shop, with proceeds benefiting the hospital.
Stein, who also serves on the auxiliary board, said she’s been working in the gift shop since 1965.
She said she has also worked in a variety of different areas.
Stein said she got involved with volunteering through a friend and “just got into it and came to enjoy it.”
“It’s a very rewarding experience for me to participate in volunteering,” she said. “I enjoy the people I work with and friends that I have made through volunteering.”
Bartoni said Gentilcore is “very well known” at the hospital.
“All the employees in the hospital know and love her,” Bartoni said.
Gentilcore, who usually volunteers in registration and admissions and also delivers mail to patients, gets to meet employees, as well as patients.
Gentilcore said patients love the pretty, decorated basket in which she carries the mail she delivers.
“People light up when they see it and they say, ‘Oh, what a pretty basket,'” she said. “They know who I am when I come through the hall.”
Gentilcore said she also talks to the patients and encourages them.
“I know everyone. Sometimes, I stay longer and talk and give encouragement and, sometimes, they feel better and I feel better,” Gentilcore said.
Gentilcore said it’s the people that make her enjoy volunteering at the hospital.
“I just like people. People are so appreciative. I try to help them and in turn they make you feel important,” she said.
Gentilcore is married to Joseph Jr. and they have one son, Joseph Gentilcore III of Uniontown, a daughter-in-law, Colleen Gentilcore, and two grandchildren, Joseph IV, 8 and Gina, 10 .
Betty and her husband, Robert H. Stein, have two children, Robert R. Stein of Chalk Hill and Marti Clark of Everett, and four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.