WCHD’s Medical Reserve Corps Donate Over 10,000 Volunteer Hours During COVID-19

By the end February, Will County Health Department’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers had donated 10,040 hours valued at $379,074.00 during the COVID-19 response mission (and counting).

Barbara Agor, Emergency Preparedness and Response Specialist and MRC Volunteer Coordinator has been instrumental in overseeing the volunteer efforts for Will County Health Department (WCHD). During the pandemic, staffing at most organizations proved difficult. The dedication of the WCHD MRC volunteers made scheduling over 200 on-site clinics and over 60 off-site clinics significantly more manageable.

At the start of the pandemic, the health department introduced a WCHD COVID-19 hotline to answer the flurry of calls coming in by residents who were trying to understand the novel virus and its impact. Many of the health department’s MRC volunteers worked the early hotline answering calls and sharing information about the virus. Upon receipt of vaccines, the MRC volunteers switched gears and assisted in the early vaccination clinics which they continue to do to this day. In addition to providing support at the mass vaccination sites in Joliet, Wilmington, and Monee, the dedicated volunteers have also traveled throughout the county working numerous vaccine clinics held at various business locations, schools, religious organizations, and community events.

Mrs. Agor said, “Our volunteers are heroes. In the face of the pandemic, at a time where most of us were concerned for ourselves and our families, our volunteers stepped forward and gave of themselves. Throughout the past two years and among countless changes, they continue to show up with a smile and a kind word to assist the residents of Will County. Without compensation or media recognition, our volunteers continue to offer their time and talents and their efforts continue to save lives.”

The WCHD MRC volunteers have been and continue to be an integral part of the health department’s COVID-19 response. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic there were approximately 215 MRC volunteers registered with Will County Health Department. During the pandemic, residents of Will County felt compelled to help and answered the call to volunteer. Currently, WCHD has around 330 Medical Reserve Corps volunteers, gaining approximately 115 new volunteers during this response mission.

Will County Health Department is very proud of the commitment and grateful for the dedication demonstrated by the Medical Reserve Corps volunteers during this pandemic. Thank you, MRC volunteers! If you are interested in becoming an MRC volunteer, email Barbara Agor at bagor@willcountyhealth.org.