2,055 Volunteers Gave 189,533 Hours to MultiCare in 2025

When Alex Zamora brings hot chocolate to a scared child in the emergency room, she sees their whole face light up. These small moments of comfort have become the college student's favorite part of volunteering at MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital.

"Whether it's getting coffee for parents, coloring with a child or providing a warm blanket, each encounter is different and intrinsically rewarding," says Zamora, who studies biomedical sciences at University of Washington Tacoma. She remembers one shy young girl who wouldn't speak at first but was laughing and chatting by the time her parents arrived.

Zamora is one of 2,055 volunteers who contributed 189,533 hours of service across MultiCare's hospitals and clinics in 2025. They assist care teams, staff gift shops, provide pet therapy, and offer moments of kindness when families need them most.

For Cassie DeView, volunteering in the medical-surgical and emergency departments at MultiCare Allenmore Hospital became so meaningful that she's now stepping into a full-time staff position this spring. Since 2025, she's been the steady presence patients can count on for a snack, a drink, or just someone willing to listen.

"I provide an ear in a space where people are often scared or feel unheard, and I do my best to help them feel validated and safe," DeView explains. Recently accepted into nursing school at Tacoma Community College, she dreams of bringing better health care access to underserved communities through mobile health units.

After a few months of retirement in 2023, Michael Berman realized sitting still wasn't for him. Now he's the welcoming face at MultiCare Auburn Medical Center's registration desk, ready with directions, answers, and his signature upbeat greeting.

"A trip to the hospital can be intimidating and stressful for some people," Berman says. "If I can get a smile or a laugh from them, I hope it goes to easing their minds about what they're there for."

Sunny's Take

What makes these stories shine is the beautiful reciprocity of volunteering. Zamora started wanting to make an impact but says she leaves each shift changed by the families she meets. DeView found her calling and her career. Berman discovered retirement looks better when filled with purpose and new friendships with staff.

The numbers tell part of the story: 118 volunteers like DeView transitioned into staff roles this year, strengthening MultiCare's workforce while pursuing their passion for helping others. But the real measure lives in the warmed blankets, the coloring sessions, the reassuring smiles, and the thousands of small kindnesses that remind patients they're seen and cared for.

These volunteers prove you don't need grand gestures to transform a community—just a few hours, an open heart, and a willingness to meet others' needs before your own.