Volunteering is all about giving something back to your community - but you can also have a great time while doing it - at least two of the more than 70 Northland District Health Board volunteer workers say.
This week is Volunteer Week, when we celebrate and recognise the efforts of the thousands of people across the region who give up their own time to help others.
Northland DHB chief executive Nick Chamberlain said the 70-plus volunteers within Northland DHB were key to the smooth running of the organisation.
"These people give up their time to help patients, visitors and staff. Many of them have become familiar faces around Northland DHB and are valuable to the organisation," Dr Chamberlain said.
Every volunteer brings their unique personality and their willingness to make other peoples' lives a little easier when entering the hospital, regardless of whether they are staff, visitors or patients.