Volunteers lend a hand to fund raising

Many hands are needed to keep the Hutchinson Center’s fund-raising efforts going, including the hands—and handwriting—of Sally Reiquam and Geri Alhadeff.

Volunteers for the Hutch’s annual giving department, Reiquam and Alhadeff hand write and address hundreds of memorial-gift cards and thank-you notes to donors each month.

Reiquam, of Seattle, began volunteering six years ago for very personal reasons. “I lost a daughter and a husband to cancer and have donated to the Hutch since my daughter’s death,” she says.

“I find my volunteer work in Memorials very rewarding—it makes you feel good to help others feel better by donating in memory of their loved ones. It’s also fun to work here.”

When Alhadeff went on medical leave from her school-district job earlier this year, she was looking for something worthwhile to occupy her time.

“While I’m on medical leave I wanted to feel like I was giving something back. I called the Hutch to find out about being a volunteer, said Alhadeff, of Mercer Island, Wash. “The staff here are very warm and inviting—I really look forward to my time spent here.”

Become a holiday-season volunteer

The holiday season is fast approaching and with it comes a multitude of extra activities for the Hutchinson Center’s fund-raising department. If you live in the Seattle area, have some time to give and would like to get into the holiday spirit with a fun group of people, please call Rachelle McCallum at (206) 667-5242.