Red Cross seeks volunteers for med group pharmacy

  • Published
  • By Ryan Stark
  • Nucleus writer
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The pharmacy at the 377th Medical Group, which is one of the busier locations at Kirtland, requires a large workforce to make it run.

For many years, Red Cross volunteers have given hours and hours to assist the Airmen and civilians running the pharmacy.

Lee "Peat" Moss, a retired 20-year Air Force veteran, and his wife, Linda, have done just that for six years. They volunteer one day a week, every week.

He said he volunteers as a way to pay forward the veterans' benefits he has received.

"We have fun, and we owe," Peat said. "We've been getting stuff given to us for a lot of years and we like to give back."

"It's a fun job," Linda added. "And it's a good place to loosen up and have fun."

The Mosses are among 12 regular volunteers at the pharmacy. But that number will have to nearly double soon, according to Staff Sgt. Becky Annison, the pharmacy's non-commissioned officer in charge.

Annison is one of two volunteer coordinators at the medical group. She needs about 10 new volunteers to join the ranks as plans for a new pharmacy location at Kirtland's Base Exchange come together.

"They do everything, from dispensing medications to answering phone calls to checking expiration dates and putting away stock to standing and serving people at the window," Annison said.

Although no opening day has been set for the new pharmacy, the search for new volunteers is already underway.

Volunteers must apply to be a Red Cross volunteer, go through a background check and attend a class on patient confidentiality and volunteers are asked to make a regular commitment of at least four hours a week, among other requirements.

On-the-job training is part of the volunteer experience as well.

Dyann Trujillo, who works for Red Cross, helps to coordinate the program and serves as the Service to the Armed Forces program specialist, said volunteers must be able to handle the pace of work at the pharmacy.

"They have to be able to move really fast. The pharmacy is busy every day of the week," she said. "They've got to be able to take on new skills, be very people-oriented and be able to provide a lot of good customer service."

Volunteers must also be physically able to stand for the hours they work, she said.

Despite those requirements, Trujillo said people from many walks of life have volunteered.

"It really helps with students from the University of New Mexico who are trying to finish their prerequisites when they're getting ready for pharmacy school," she said. "And it's ideal for military spouses who are trying to build up their résumé and work skills while moving around. It helps them to be more marketable."

Go to www.redcross.org/newmexico and click on the "volunteer" button to apply. The pharmacy is one of the choices that can be selected on the registration form.