Teen finds love for volunteering

BELLEVUE – Bellevue High School senior Dillon Berkey, 18, became a volunteer at The Bellevue Hospital because he thought it would help him earn college scholarships. It didn't take long, however, to realize that the benefits of volunteering go far beyond scholarship money.

And it didn't take long to learn that he loves to be a volunteer.

Berkey began volunteering at TBH during his freshman year after attending a health career expo at Clyde High School. TBH hosted a stand on volunteering at the expo.

"My mom told me to start volunteering for scholarships," Berkey said. "I thought The Bellevue Hospital would be a perfect place to start, because I was already interested in the medical field."

Berkey hopes to become an occupational therapist. He became interested in the career after undergoing occupational therapy himself.

"I had a lot of problems when I was little with sports. I'd get injured a lot," he said. "My first encounter with occupational therapy was when I shattered my hand. I could barely move my hands for two or three weeks, and it was terrible."

Berkey was amazed at his improvement after only one week of therapy.

"Seeing what they did for people — within one week I improved," he said.

That experience inspired him to seek a career in occupational therapy, and volunteering at TBH has given him a good foundation.

"(Volunteering) is more than just the scholarships, which is initially why I came in. After I started, I realized how it improves my social skills," he said. "I want to go into the medical field, and I've not only learned about a hospital setting, but I've also learned how to handle patients. I've learned how to talk to them and keep their privacy — that's a big thing I've learned."

Berkey said he was always at ease interacting with strangers, but his time at TBH has nevertheless improved his social skills.

"Social skills is a big one. My social skills have improved, because I meet new people every single day," he said. "I got used to talking to new people. I was comfortable with it, but it still improved my social skills, because you're normally not out with strangers every single day."

Berkey's volunteer duties include greeting guests at the hospital's front desk, directing them to where they need to go, transporting people in wheelchairs and delivering paperwork to the front desk.

He also helps with the hospital's annual Washing of the Wheelchairs event that brings many volunteers together for a workday.

"Toward the end of the summer, we take all the wheelchairs outside, out back, and give them a thorough cleaning," he said. "It's fun."

Berkey works with TBH concierge Jan Fulton at the front desk. Fulton said Berkey is a huge help to her.

"Whatever I ask of him, he does. He's very respectful and very helpful," she said. "I can't say enough good things about him. I ask any request, and he doesn't bat an eyelash about doing it."

In his spare time, Berkey has a part-time job at Sports Hut in Bellevue, and he also volunteers with the Teen Leadership class at Bellevue High School.

"We do a lot of different stuff with volunteering in our community. The first thing we did was go to Cedar Point for the Rev 3 Triathlon. I worked in the changing tent," he said.

In the past, Berkey volunteered at a local food pantry.

"I remember my dad trying to get me up for it on Sundays, and I wouldn't budge," he said. "He finally got me going, and I really liked it."

He is grateful that his parents encouraged him to volunteer.

"My parents got the ball rolling, and since then I've been pushing myself to do it," he said.