LLU&MC Scope Autumn 2000

Medical Center volunteer still going strong at age 100

B. Lyn Behrens (right), MBBS, president and CEO of Loma Linda University Medical Center, presents Ina Hall (center) with a plaque recognizing her for her dedicated service to the hospital. Denise Winter (left), director of volunteer services, threw a birthday celebration for Ms. Hall during which many of her co-workers and friends dropped by to wish her well.

At 100 years old, Ina Hall still has spunk. As the oldest volunteer at Loma Linda University Medical Center, she's been getting a lot of attention recently. Her friends and co-workers celebrated her 100th birthday a day early on May 1. During the party and in the days leading up to it, Ms. Hall was suddenly a media star. Her story appeared in two local newspapers and the local NBC affiliate interviewed her for the evening news.

Ms. Hall was born on May 2, 1900, in Nicaragua. The health-care field isn't new to herÛshe worked as a nurse in Nica ragua for 40 years before retiring. At the age of 81, she moved to Loma Linda to be close to her friends. It wasn't until Ms. Hall was 92 years old that she began volunteering at the Medical Center.

Since she began volunteering in the central service department in 1992, Ms. Hall has served more than 2,300 hours. She spends her time folding towels and steri lizing them for surgery.

I love volunteering, she says. I feel like I'm doing something for the Lord. It's my simple way of ministering.

[Scope, Autumn 2000]