Puppet makers

With needles sewing, scissors cutting, and sewing machines humming, volunteers on the puppet committee produce about 12 "Pinkie Puppets" per week for pediatric patients at Mobile Infirmary. Every Thursday morning finds this hard-working group cutting yards of pink material, stuffing, hemming, and packaging the puppets which have become traditional at Mobile Infirmary. Over 50 years ago, Mrs. Palmer Gaillard was at a hospital meeting in California when she was given a permit and pattern for Pinkie. Mobile Infirmary agreed to only use Pinkie for the children and to never give away the pattern. The group of puppet makers meets for two hours every Thursday morning. So far this year, they have made 160. They produce the puppets using the old-fashioned assembly line.

Mobile Infirmary Volunteers need puppet makers. If anyone is interested, please call Volunteer Services at 251-435-2187. The "puppet ladies" and children would greatly appreciate your help.

Rock-a-teer program

A unique group of volunteers, nicknamed the "rock-a-teers," work with the Infirmary's nursery staff to provide additional comfort to newborns by rocking and holding them. They also perform other duties as directed by the newborn nursing staff. The rock-a-teers are a great comfort to our patients both mothers and babies. When parental presence is not possible for a crying infant, volunteers are available to soothe the baby by holding, swaddling, or rocking.

To ensure the success of this new program, rock-a-teers must meet all the requirements of Mobile Infirmary volunteers, including orientation, health and safety requirements, annual inservices, and a criminal background check. Before becoming a rock-a-teer, individuals must have performed a minimum of four consecutive months of volunteer service at Mobile Infirmary. They must also complete the required Newborn Nursery course prior to entering the program.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Infirmary, for this or any other volunteer opportunity, should call 251-435-2187.