Working Volunteers

Portions of Jeannine Stein’s article hit home. I am a young professional woman who has recently completed a Ph.D. After many years of study combined with working full time, I am relishing the “free time” I now have. I would very much like to use some of that time to do volunteer work for a hospital or other charitable organization.

Imagine my surprise when I contacted three hospitals--one close to where I work (Pasadena) and two near where I live (Rancho Cucamonga)--and found that none offered their training course other than in the traditional work hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday).

Hospitals and other charitable organizations must realize that there are caring, concerned, committed individuals in our society who find that they must work for a living and cannot for one reason or another take a day or two off to be trained, but who still would like to volunteer their time and abilities to charity. It is my opinion that it would not be too much to ask that training programs be offered on a Saturday, or in the evenings, say once every three months, to accommodate the working men and women who want to help.

EILEEN D. HEVERON

Rancho Cucamonga