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.
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.
“The best thing you can do with your time is give it to someone else,” Nancy Stelling, Medical Reserve Corps volunteer said.
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’s 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’ teeth in the WIC program (Women, Infants and Children).
“It makes me feel good,” Stelling said. “I am making a difference to people outside the mainstream, providing health and resources to those in need.”
Stelling volunteered with Mercy Ships in Madagascar. She’s completed mission work in the Caribbean and Africa with World Pediatric. She is also a member of the Central Virginia Nurse Honor Guard.
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.
Non-clinical volunteers are also needed.
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’s
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.
“I’ve gotten hands-on experience to help me prepare for the workforce,” Garcia said. “I’ve learned about branding guidelines, social media policies, and understand what it would be like to work in public health.”
In her spare time, she works at Stella’s 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.
“Volunteering at VDH is a great opportunity for artists to practice and grow their skills,” Garcia said. “The people are kind, supportive and understanding to work with your schedule.”
Volunteers make an impact.
MRC volunteers at the Chesterfield Health District worked 1,687 hours last year for a total economic value of $87,394.
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.
“Volunteers need to feel supported, they need a quality orientation, and they need to know they’re working to do good,” MRC volunteer Lee Ann Chambliss said at the event. “We experience camaraderie at the Virginia Department of Health.”
If you’re interested in volunteering at the Virginia Department of Health as a Medical Reserve Corps volunteer, complete an application online.