As one of the oldest hospital volunteer auxiliaries in the country, the LVC at Massachusetts General Hospital has been integral to the community for 155 years. The group began in 1869 as the Ladies Visiting Committee, but as time has changed so has the LVC, widening their member base to be more inclusive and renaming themselves after their defining pillars: Legacy, Vision, Commitment.
Co-chaired by Jen Brountas and Hattie Kessler, the dedicated group of volunteers remain unwavering in their mission to enhance the comfort and well-being of Mass General patients and their families, as well as staff. One of the ways they do this is through the distribution of grants that support patient-facing programs and initiatives. The group utilizes the profits from six gift shops on Mass General’s campus to meet the needs of patients often unmet by traditional insurance or healthcare services. Over the years, they have supported efforts such as: purchasing wigs for patients experiencing hair loss; providing bus tickets and groceries for women experiencing domestic violence; funding “buddy chairs” for friends and family members visiting patients on the infusion unit; and distributing books in multiple languages for the Special Care Nursery to ensure every baby goes home with a book.
One LVC-led initiative that stands out to Pamela Oswald Louis, the LVC’s marketing and communications chair, are the “prayer trees” displayed throughout the hospital. “The act of writing down something you need support with, and a stranger picking that ribbon up and carrying it with them in thought and prayer, is really special,” Pamela says.
“The stores provide even more than these essential grants to the community,” she says, “For folks working at the hospital, it’s a place to take a moment of reprieve away from beeping machines and the stress of their day-to-day role. It’s a place to grab flowers on the way home to your spouse or a gift for a friend you’re visiting on the way to their room.”
Celebrating Community
In addition to supporting the LVC‘s work turning profits into grants, many members have taken on a new role, building a team to raise money for and participate in the Mass General Cancer Center Eversource 5k Run-Walk, taking place this year on Sunday, September 15 on the Charles River Esplanade.
“Unfortunately, almost everyone in the LVC has been touched by cancer in some way, whether it’s their own diagnosis or that of a family member or friend,” says Jen. “But we’ve also all been lucky enough to be able to access the incredible care provided at Mass General Cancer Center. Participating in this race is such a special way for us to give back.”
“It’s really inspiring to see so many people show up so early on a Sunday morning and to see folks in athletic clothes who we usually only see at the hospital in professional attire or scrubs,” Hattie says. “It’s clear we’re all there for the same reason — to have fun as a community and to raise money for a really good cause.”
Last year, the LVC raised $19,000 and hopes to match that amount this September. In addition to raising funds for cancer care and cancer research, the Run-Walk creates a space for LVC members to grow awareness about their impact. LVC members welcome the opportunity to speak with fellow participants about the funding they can provide across different areas to address patient needs, and how others can give back by shopping at the gift stores.
“The LVC uses a ‘bottom up’ approach,” Jen says. “We rely on our volunteers, healthcare providers and community members from across the hospital to identify areas of need where an LVC grant could help — so being able to spend time in the community in this way to spread the word is amazing.”
To register for the Mass General Cancer Center Eversource 5k Run-Walk, click here.
To learn more about the MGH General Store, click here.
