Recognizing Medical Reserve Corps volunteers during National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week, April 18-24, 2021, recognizes the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to help communities address challenges, build stronger bonds, and positively influence our future. Olmsted County Public Health Services recognizes and thanks all the volunteers who lend their time, talents, and voice to make a difference in our local communities.

The tremendous power of volunteers and volunteerism has been seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, especially through the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). 

Nationally, MRC volunteers have donated over 450,000 hours to COVID-19 response efforts this past year. These kind and generous individuals have given their time and talents in many ways – from sewing and distributing masks, staffing testing centers and vaccination clinics, to packaging food and other essentials so people can remain safely at home when quarantined.

“Locally, Olmsted County MRC volunteers stepped up in incredible ways to assist with the pandemic response,” said Olmsted County Public Health Director Graham Briggs. “Olmsted County Public Health is proud of our 200+ local Medical Reserve Corps volunteers and thank them for their many contributions this past year.” 

As of today, local MRC volunteers have worked 95 shifts equaling nearly 450 hours at the Graham Park Collaborative Testing Site and our vaccination clinics. The number of shifts and hours contributed continues to grow each week as we hold more and more vaccination clinics across the county. 

Local MRC volunteers have assisted with dozens of assignments at clinics including greeting and helping people check in, verifying forms, directing people along the queue lines, providing guidance and directions, giving comfort through a warm smile and comforting presence, and helping to draw up and administer vaccines at our clinics. 

National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 and has grown exponentially each year. In the last year, the Olmsted County MRC unit has grown by 52% and we get new applicants every week. Find out more about how you can sign up and be a part of this amazing team.