Volunteering at Silver Cross Fulfills Life for the Young and Young at Heart
Marge Persico has been greeting visitors at the front desk in the lobby of Silver Cross Hospital since she started volunteering in 2006.
Himani Kamineni was recognized for volunteering more than 500 hours during the Silver Cross annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon held last month.
At 87, Marge Persico has logged nearly 11,000 volunteer hours at Silver Cross Hospital since she began offering her time in 2006.
That’s around the time Himani Kamineni was born. Now, she’s 19, a pre-med student at MIT and has been one of the hospital’s most involved “Volunteens,” with 641 hours to her credit.
Though they’re at opposite ends of the age spectrum, Persico and Kamineni share the same mission as volunteers: to help make visitors welcome and at ease when entering what can be an uncertain and intimidating atmosphere.
During National Volunteer Week – April 20 to 26 – they and their colleagues at Silver Cross are celebrated for all that they do in various departments. For Persico, that has meant serving in Endoscopy, Procedural Care and among the smiling faces greeting visitors at the front desk in the lobby.
“I enjoy volunteering, and I’ve done it all my life,” said Persico, who started at Silver Cross just before she retired from Caterpillar.
“I love helping the people; sometimes they just need someone to talk to. Other times, they're from out of town and don't know where to go for different things.”
Kamineni said she initially got involved when she was looking to log community service hours as a student at the Illinois Math and Science Academy.
“I had heard from friends about Silver Cross, and it’s only 5 minutes from my house in Lockport,” she said. “And luckily, they had openings for volunteers.
“At first, volunteering in the Procedural Care Unit was about the community service hours. But as it went on, I saw Silver Cross was a great place to be.”
Persico has had a few memorable encounters, including helping a woman whose husband was in ICU and didn’t know where to go since she didn’t want to drive on Interstate 80. Also, the woman needed to set up a power of attorney.
“I found her a hotel where she didn’t have to drive on 80, and I suggested how a friend back home would be able to help her with the paperwork.”
Kamineni said her original career plan was to pursue medical research. And while MIT has some great studies going on, she found what was really important while volunteering at Silver Cross.
“I want to be a doctor. I really enjoy that personal connection with patients.”
Kamineni’s studies likely will limit her time to volunteer at Silver Cross in the future. But Persico is still going strong, four hours a day, three days a week. And that’s not all.
“My husband Sam and I enjoy going out to various restaurants. We keep active. And on Sundays, we go dancing at the Croatian Club in Joliet. Polkas, all kinds of dancing. I keep telling people, ‘You gotta move!’”
Would you like to volunteer at Silver Cross Hospital? Complete a Volunteer Interest Form at silvercross.org or call 815-300-5365.
