A Day in the Gift Shop -by Lynn Kloss
I’ve been to many hospital gift shops over the years. I’m not sure when they transformed into such unique places to shop. Sixty years ago, as a candy striper, I don’t remember our local hospital having a gift shop. In recent years, I’ve visited these charming places as a patient, a visitor, an employee, and a volunteer. Currently I volunteer at a local hospital gift shop, filling in for volunteers who have to miss a shift. I wasn’t aware until I began this engagement that many of these gift shops are run by volunteers.
The profits of the particular gift shop I volunteer for are managed by a volunteer committee, along with hospital employees, and are used to fund patients’ services and offer scholarships for local students.
When I volunteer, I have a list of duties to perform: filling in items that sell fast, organizing clothing, checking for and returning phone messages, watering flowers, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, etc. Of course, customers take precedence over everything. The customers vary widely, including patient visitors, relatives of patients, hospital employees, patients themselves, and the general public. They shop for sundries, cards, flowers, snacks, gifts for patients and gifts in general, jewelry, baby and child items, and clothing.
I often see people more than once – especially during a loved ones’ stay.
Family members often share stories about loved ones receiving care and celebrate milestones when they are able to return home. When babies are born, Brahm’s Lullaby is piped throughout the hospital. Sometimes I hear it multiple times in a three-hour shift. It always brings a smile.
One woman came in as we were changing shifts and elicited both volunteers in deciding on an outfit for a date she had that night. As we helped her choose an outfit, she shared details about her new relationship and asked for thoughts on personal issues she was navigating. Who knew we would be consulted in this way when we volunteered to work at the gift shop!
I have seen meaningful reunions between patients and members of their care team. The bond that had forms is heartwarming to witness. Many patients come in and are accompanied by medical devices or aids – just wanting to have a change of scene and be engaged in a normal activity for a time. Nurses come in to buy little trinkets to brighten their patients days. Sometimes people come in and buy two or three small bouquets of flowers and tell me they take them to a floor and ask the nurses to give them to patients that need a boost today. Watching the depth of human caring that passes by in so many exchanges makes this a very rewarding place to volunteer.
The next time you have to be at the hospital, stop at the gift shop and have a look. Not only will you find unique and useful items, you may encounter the miracle of human interaction.
Lynn Kloss retired from a career in employee benefit consulting in 2016. She went back to school after retirement to get her Masters in psychology, with an emphasis on geropsychology. She has volunteered with seniors and dementia patients since retiring. She and her husband moved to Fort Collins in 2023. They love the weather and friendly people of Fort Collins. Lynn currently volunteers at the Aspen Club and the Museum of Discover.
If this inspires you to contribute your own thoughts and experiences, we invite you to share them. Click here for more information.
