Why I Volunteer to Work Every Holiday

    In residential mental healthcare, I volunteer to work every holiday. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, you name it.

    People always ask me why I do it. Sometimes, I wonder why I do it - usually when my schedule involves working, then attending family parties after.

    It’s simple. I do it because I like it.

    Lots of clients have had bad experiences with holidays, usually due to family issues. Many of them are alone for the holidays, and instead of being a joyous time, it’s a sad one. In residential care, a client isn’t even at their own home. It can feel isolating and lonely.

    I am the type of person who finds fun in making a holiday matter. Some people have never had the pleasure of being woken up with Christmas songs and sitting around the Christmas tree to open presents. Some people have never been able to build a gingerbread house, or do an Easter egg hunt. I want to bring them that experience. 

    It’s not required that clients participate but I really like when they do, even if they don’t celebrate the holiday. I encourage them to have a “happy day” instead.

    Today, I worked in geriatric mental health. I made laminated Easter eggs and told them a story about how I met Peter Cottontail in the parking lot. I said that he dropped his eggs in the building, so we would receive a reward if we found them all. Complete with a scribed letter (because rabbits can’t write, silly!) and a little rabbit footprint. I taped the eggs to the walls and there was my Easter egg hunt.

    This population sometimes struggles with group participation, so I wasn’t sure how it would blow over. I did not expect the excited reaction I got. I had a resident burst into tears because they were overwhelmed with happiness. It was nice to see them interact.

    I come to work on the holidays so I can make sure my residents have a nice holiday. They always appreciate the effort. I attend my family gatherings afterward, and they always want to know how our day went.

    If you’re in residential care and you’re contemplating going in on a holiday, I recommend it. Your presence alone tells your residents that you care about their well-being and happiness. They may never have experienced kindness like that. This is a good opportunity to show them that they matter.