Bart George cleans up in the cafeteria at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center. He's one of about 10 volunteers from Bancroft who help out at the Camden, N.J., hospital.

10.14.11 ¦ Adults with brain injuries get job experience at local hospital

Through Bancroft, people with brain injuries are volunteering at a local hospital – and gaining valuable work skills.

About ten people in Bancroft's Day Treatment Services (DTS) are helping in a variety of ways at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, N.J.

Day by day, they build skills and confidence as they stick to a schedule, follow procedures and interact face-to-face. Long-term benefits could be even greater.

"When they apply for a job, they can use the hospital as a reference," says Mark Alessandrini, a program director at DTS in Cherry Hill. "That's a great thing to have on a resume."

These volunteers are retooling their lives after brain injuries. Mr. Alessandrini worked with Lourdes to determine potential tasks, like folding prayer cards to be distributed on meal trays, restocking cafeteria condiments and delivering newspapers to patient rooms. One man has a high visibility reception position; others take on clerical tasks behind the scenes.

All are contributing in valuable ways to Lourdes, says Lisa McGarr, director of volunteer services for the hospital.

Even as unpaid workers, each one had to impress in an interview and vie for an opening.

"We had to determine how they would fit in with our customer-oriented, friendly atmosphere," Ms. McGarr says.

Such community integration is a key goal of Mr. Alessandrini's program. It provides the people DTS serves with motivation and an empowering sense of value.

"They were once a part of the community and they want to get back out there," he says. "They can still be an asset."

For more information on Bancroft Brain Injury Services or to arrange a tour, please call (800) 774-5516.