Page 18 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2019

COASTNOTES
Volunteering is Timeless
Memorial Hospital Has Volunteers of All Ages
story and photos courtesy of Memorial Hospital Some might think a young man in his early 20s and
a lady in her late 90s wouldn’t have a single thing in common. However, at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, William Mechtly and Ethelyn Mozingo prove volunteering brings all walks of life together.
Ethelyn has volunteered at Memorial for more than 30 years. After
retiring from
Mississippi Power
as an appliance
saleswoman,
a friend
recommended
volunteering at
the hospital. She
says she missed
seeing people at
work. “That’s why
I come back every
day,” she said. Ethelyn began in the original gift shop and currently delivers flowers to patients.
She enjoys the smiles on people’s faces when she delivers their flowers and one delivery sticks with her. “I took flowers to the room of an older man and he said, ‘Ma’am, those aren’t for me,’” she said. “He could not believe someone sent him flowers.” When she’s not volunteering, Ethelyn enjoys doing needlepoint and other needlework crafts and being involved in retiree groups.
William Mechtly, a Seabee with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11, also finds the personal interaction as a volunteer rewarding. Working in the Emergency Room, William helps incoming visitors locate and visit with their loved ones.
“I’ve learned a lot about how to talk to people,” he
William Mechtly, Seabee, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 and Memorial Volunteer
said. “Especially dealing with people in distress.” His command emphasizes the importance of community service, so William and his friend and fellow Seabee Bobby Harris decided to explore volunteer opportunities at Memorial. The two have been volunteering for about eight months and William said he’s enjoyed his time at the hospital. For Halloween, both young men dressed as pirates and gave candy to ER nurses and staff. There’s never a dull moment in the ER and William says it’s always interesting. “It’s definitely been a learning experience.”
When he’s not on base serving his country or at Memorial, William enjoys working out on the beach.
(L-R) Bobby Harris, Memorial Volunteer, Jacqueline Martinez, Memorial Patient Registration and William Mechtly, Memorial Volunteer, celebrated Halloween pirate style.
Ethelyn Mozingo, Memorial Volunteer
BECOME A VOLUNTEER
• Online: www.gulfportmemorial.com
• E-mail: Ann Dronet at adronet@mhg.com
• Mail: Memorial Hospital Community Relations, P.O.
Box 1810, Gulfport, MS 39502-1810
• In person: Bring your application to the Community
and Corporate Relations office in the Memorial South Building or leave it with one of the Volunteers in the Memorial Gift Shop
18 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • April 2019
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