{"id":4742,"date":"2026-03-31T13:00:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T13:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/chesterfield\/?page_id=4742"},"modified":"2026-03-31T13:00:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T13:00:25","slug":"volunteer-month-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/chesterfield\/volunteer-month-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteer Month 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Best Thing You Can Do with Your Time is Give it to Someone Else<\/h2>\n

Chesterfield Health District celebrates National Volunteer Month<\/em><\/h3>\n
\"\"
Stelling assists at a rabies clinic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In honor of National Volunteer Month, the Chesterfield Health District is highlighting three of its Medical Reserve Corps volunteers who are making a difference in public health.<\/p>\n

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a force of dedicated volunteers who stand ready to support the community in the event of a public health emergency. Each local MRC unit is comprised of teams of medical and public health professionals who, along with interested non-medical community members, volunteer their skills, expertise and time to support ongoing public health initiatives and health emergencies throughout Virginia.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best thing you can do with your time is give it to someone else,\u201d Nancy Stelling, Medical Reserve Corps volunteer said.<\/p>\n

Stelling was a nurse anesthetist and is now retired, but she keeps her nursing credentials updated just so she can help at the Chesterfield Health District. She\u2019s been volunteering more than 20 years with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), doing anything from contact tracing and immunizations during the pandemic, to assisting at rabies clinics and most recently signed on to apply fluoride varnish to babies\u2019 teeth in the WIC program (Women, Infants and Children).<\/p>\n

\"\"
Stelling serves on the Central Virginia Nurse Honor Guard.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt makes me feel good,\u201d Stelling said. \u201cI am making a difference to people outside the mainstream, providing health and resources to those in need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stelling volunteered with Mercy Ships in Madagascar. She\u2019s completed mission work in the Caribbean and Africa with World Pediatric. She is also a member of the Central Virginia Nurse Honor Guard.<\/p>\n

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her cat and dog, traveling most recently to the Galapagos Islands to go on a dive boat. She also aspires to ice climb. Her sense of adventure is admirable, having completed triathlons in her past.<\/p>\n

Non-clinical volunteers are also needed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Julianna Garcia has been volunteering with the health department for about eight months while she is a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University as a VCU Arts graphic design major. She\u2019s<\/p>\n

\"\"
Garcia is a graphic design student at VCU.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

designed flyers, edited photos and created content for social media. As a bilingual student, she is extraordinarily helpful in translating her collateral for Spanish-speaking populations.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve gotten hands-on experience to help me prepare for the workforce,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cI\u2019ve learned about branding guidelines, social media policies, and understand what it would be like to work in public health.\u201d<\/p>\n

In her spare time, she works at Stella\u2019s Grocery, walks her dog, and spends time with friends. She manages her schedule by working on days she is in class to reserve time on the weekends to recharge and catch up on coursework.<\/p>\n

\u201cVolunteering at VDH is a great opportunity for artists to practice and grow their skills,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cThe people are kind, supportive and understanding to work with your schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n

Volunteers make an impact.<\/strong><\/p>\n

MRC volunteers at the Chesterfield Health District worked 1,687 hours last year for a total economic value of $87,394.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Chambliss speaks at a public health conference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Virginia Department of Health awarded Chesterfield MRCs the 2026 Excellence of Engagement Award at the annual Emergency Preparedness Summit this week for their integration in local health initiatives. MRC Volunteer coordinator Sarah Gagnon and MRC volunteer Lee Ann Chambliss presented their work in Epidemiology at the summit as a case example of how to use volunteers during outbreaks and helping with rabies case follow ups.<\/p>\n

\u201cVolunteers need to feel supported, they need a quality orientation, and they need to know they\u2019re working to do good,\u201d MRC volunteer Lee Ann Chambliss said at the event. \u201cWe experience camaraderie at the Virginia Department of Health.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in volunteering at the Virginia Department of Health as a Medical Reserve Corps volunteer, complete an application<\/a> online.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Best Thing You Can Do with Your Time is Give it to Someone Else Chesterfield Health District celebrates National Volunteer Month In honor of National Volunteer Month, the Chesterfield Health District is highlighting three of its Medical Reserve Corps volunteers who are making a difference in public health. 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