Joplin Hospital Volunteers Give 1,000+ Hours of Free Care

Retirement doesn't mean slowing down for Karla Keizer and Roger McKee. Instead, they're spending their free time making Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri, a warmer place for patients and staff alike.

Keizer works 20 hours a week in the hospital gift shop, handling everything from the cash register to dressing mannequins. She's been showing up for 12 years without collecting a single paycheck, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

"It keeps me active. I get to see people," Keizer explained. "Once you retire, you lose some of your contacts, and this is a good way to get to know other people and visit with patients."

The former accountant even gets to flex her numbers skills by balancing sales and managing timecards. She's part of a large volunteer force that fills critical gaps throughout Freeman Hospital every single day.

McKee rotates between departments based on where he's needed most. One day he's greeting visitors at the front desk. The next, he's supporting families in the ICU or helping out in the surgical department.

His motivation is simple: giving back. "I always believe that you ought to give back to your community, and it's a way to give back by helping people," McKee said.

Sunny's Take

These volunteers prove that retirement can be the beginning of your most meaningful work. Keizer and McKee represent countless others who show up week after week, choosing connection over comfort and service over leisure. They're not just helping a hospital run smoothly. They're redefining what it means to age with purpose, proving that the best way to stay young is to keep showing up for others.

Their dedication creates a ripple effect that touches every patient who walks through Freeman's doors.