SHELTON, WA – Mason Health is proud to recognize the work of our many volunteers as we celebrate National Volunteer Week (April 19-25). On Monday, April 20, Mason Health honored volunteers with a breakfast reception attended by dozens of volunteers, Mason Health staff, and community members.

For more than 50 years, National Volunteer Week has served as an opportunity to recognize the immense impact of service and the ability of volunteers to tackle some of society’s greatest challenges, from global peace to world hunger to universal access to healthcare.

As a Public Hospital District, often with fewer resources than larger urban hospital systems, Mason Health relies on our volunteers to support our vision to provide the Best Patient-Centered Care in the Pacific Northwest. They can be found in almost every area of Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic. The gift shop is managed by Mason Health Foundation (our volunteer board) and operated by an at-large group of volunteers. Members of the local faith community serve as chaplains to meet patients’ spiritual needs. Culinary and Nutrition Services, the Birth Center, the Emergency Department, Marketing and Development, No One Dies Alone (NODA) – all these entities have a volunteer presence.

“I love being at the clinic and being there for someone who needs it,” said Taunya Allred, Mason Clinic volunteer. “I love the work and the environment. Every day I can make a difference in someone’s day or learn something new from one of the many employees I interact with.”

Taunya has been a volunteer for about a year. After spending three decades as a preschool teacher, she retired and became her mother-in-law’s full-time caretaker. After losing her mother-in-law and her husband, she started spending her time assisting around her community.

Mason Health has created a culture that attracts community members to participate in volunteer activities and encourages them to stay long-term, like Volunteer Chaplain Terry Oliver.

“I have served as a volunteer chaplain at Mason General Hospital since 2020 and was part of the initial conversations to develop a volunteer chaplaincy program utilizing area clergy,” said Terry Oliver, Volunteer Chaplain. “I have continued to be a part of this ongoing role of offering spiritual care to patients as a part of the hospital's practice of maintaining a wholistic approach to healthcare. I have also stayed on because I feel needed there, in this capacity, and because I find a sense of purpose in continuing to use my vocational gifts in a purposeful manner.”

Before retiring in 2016, Oliver served as a pastor in Lutheran and Ecumenical settings around the nation - from Omaha, Nebraska to Puyallup, WA – for 45 years. After moving to Shelton in 2019, he quickly came to love Mason County. “I especially appreciating getting to know people from around our county and hearing some great stories about their life experiences! It never gets old!!”

One of Mason Health’s most enduring volunteers is Penny Nielsen, who assists with administrative work in the Foundation and Development Office. Penny retired in 2011 after nearly 36 years as a Systems Analyst at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton.

“As I started my volunteer time at Mason Health, I volunteered in IT, HR, the Gift Shop, and the Foundation/Development office,” said Nielsen. “I found my niche in the Foundation/Development Office and have been volunteering only in this office for several years now.”

As a long-time resident of Mason County, Penny sees many benefits of volunteering at Mason Health. “Volunteering in Mason County has been two-fold — giving back to my new community and meeting people in my new community,” she said. “I have remained as a volunteer because I am valued as a volunteer at Mason Health. I have been given tasks that are meaningful, so I have a genuine sense I am contributing to Mason Health and Mason County.  Along with that, I so very much enjoy coming into the Foundation Office each week, greeting the staff, and learning what new projects I can help with.”

Without the dedication and hard work of our volunteers, Mason Health would be a very different place and would not be able to provide the same level of care that we do. “In our very busy clinic, our volunteers take the time to greet each patient that walks through the door. Often our volunteers are the first impression our patients receive; they set the tone with genuine care,” said Breanna Turner, Patient Access Supervisor. “Their dedication to making sure each patient feels seen and welcome does not go unnoticed. They truly are an essential part of the care we strive to provide daily.”

Mason Health, Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County is ISO 9001 Quality Management System certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and is a licensed and accredited acute care hospital with a level four emergency trauma designation. The Board of Hospital District Commissioners are Don Welander, President, Lori Brady, Secretary, and Pamela Schlauderaff, Trustee. Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic are ENERGY STAR® certified and Mason Health is the recipient of one Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Award, three Partner for Change Awards, two Greening the Operating Room Awards, the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award and the 2025 Emerald Award. To learn more about Mason Health’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.masonhealth.com/about/sustainability-environmental-stewardship. There are more than 100 physicians on staff in 19 specialties. For more information or to find a health care provider, visit www.masonhealth.com. To learn more about DNV, visit www.dnv.com/healthcare.

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