Waverly Health Center (WHC) is celebrating the legacies of Beth Giesmann and Vicki Haaland who serve as the volunteer manager and volunteer assistant manager, respectively, at WHC’s Gift Garden.
Giesmann has been a volunteer at WHC since 2009 and has spent the last ten years as the manager of the Gift Garden. Haaland has spent her entire five years of volunteerism as the assistant manager of the Gift Garden.
In their roles, Giesmann and Haaland have been responsible for purchasing items to be sold in the Gift Garden, including going to market and meeting with sales representatives. They order supplies needed for operation, unpack new merchandise and organize items to be displayed in the store. They work closely with the bookkeepers and WHC Auxiliary Board, monitoring inventory and finances.
Giesmann said some of her favorite parts of her role have been interacting with customers and other volunteers, and decorating. “Everyone who volunteers in the Gift Garden is a faithful, hard worker,” she said.
Going to market to find new merchandise for the store each year has allowed both Haaland and Giesmann to learn about the industry.
“I learn so much from everyone at market,” said Haaland. “You go in with an open mind and think about what your customers would want to buy.”
WHC’s Gift Garden is owned by the WHC Auxiliary and run entirely by volunteers. Proceeds from the gift shop allow the Auxiliary to support the hospital in various ways, including providing scholarships, purchasing equipment and more.
If you are interested in volunteering at WHC in any capacity, contact Melinda Pitt by email at MPitt@WaverlyHealthCenter.org or by phone at (319) 483-4076.