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Volunteering keeps Canny busy. He enjoys being around people, and helping out at the hospital gives him the opportunity to meet lots of new people.
Health problems a couple years ago forced Canny to retire from his job as a nursing assistant in a nursing home. However, he didn't want to just sit around at home. He found an advertisement in his church bulletin for volunteers at the hospital and decided to apply.
He says the work is never monotonous because he works in several areas of the hospital three afternoons a week. He works in the Physicians Clinic, New Directions and the Accounting Department. He also volunteers two afternoons a week at the Family Medical Office.
Kim Langfitt, MHP Volunteer Coordinator says, "He is very dedicated. Ed is very versatile.
He helps by putting new patient files together for the clinics. He photocopies papers for employees and also puts packets together for inpatient. He helps out in New Directions filing and helping with charts. There are a number of places Ed goes, too many to mention."
In the accounting department, he mails out checks and pays bills. He puts together anniversary bags for employees. Sometimes he runs the paper shredder, which isn't his favorite job, but he says he doesn't mind.
"I get a nice variety of things to do," he says. "It's really a nice place to work, to volunteer."
Canny has had to take a short break from volunteering due to some needed laser treatment for his eye. He can't wait to get back to volunteering at the hospital saying, "I'm anxious to get back."
Canny grew up in Ottumwa and moved to Oskaloosa with his wife about 26 years ago. They have two adult children. He likes fishing, reading, watching television and doing things around the house. He teaches Sunday school at his church saying, "I enjoy working with young kids."
Langfitt says, "We love our volunteers and would not know what to do without them. We are always looking for volunteers of all ages if they want to volunteer one hour a day or three hours a day, one day a week or five days a week; we are very flexible."
Anyone interested in volunteering at Mahaska Health can contact Langfitt at (641) 672-3342.
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