Maimonides Health, Brooklyn’s largest healthcare system, held a luncheon reception at the Ateres Golda banquet hall on June 7 to honor and express appreciation for the hospital’s over 1,200 volunteers.
One of the event’s special volunteer guests was Margot Lowenstein, a refugee from Nazi Germany who has been a volunteer at Maimonides for over 28 years.
Since beginning her work at Maimonides, Lowenstein has volunteered an estimated 16,000 hours of service, working in nearly every department and on every floor.
Lowenstein was also among one of the first volunteers to return to Maimonides after the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to assist in the Division of Vascular Surgery, where she makes phone calls to patients.
“On behalf of the Maimonides family, I thank you for your service,” said Maimonides President and CEO Kenneth D. Gibbs in a statement June 7. “It is an honor to work with such extraordinary volunteers. Your generosity and enthusiasm are both valuable contributions that enrich the lives of our caregivers, our patients and their loved ones. You make our hospital a special place. We wish you the very best.”
The luncheon also honored the Hebrew Academy for Special Children (HASC) for its work supporting the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and the organization’s 25-year collaboration with Maimonides.
HASC volunteers work with Maimonides to assemble the hospital’s “Welcome Boxes” which are brought and distributed to medical and surgical units to be given to patients upon their admission.
Through the help of HASC volunteers, approximately 13,000 “Welcome Boxes” are packed every year.
While volunteering at Maimonides, individuals have the opportunity to get a closer look at different careers within the healthcare field, hospital administration and research while also gaining invaluable experiences working hands-on with physicians, nurses and technicians.
To learn more about Maimonides Medical Center and their medical volunteer program visit maimo.org