Walk into the main lobby at Aultman Orrville Hospital (AOH) on a Monday or Friday afternoon, and you’re likely to find Annie Smyser cheerfully greeting patients and visitors.

A Marshallville resident, Annie began volunteering at AOH in 2019 as a way not only to give back to the community, but also to get out and meet others.

“I had been an aide for a special needs preschool for 11 years, and I wanted to continue being around people,” she said. Annie’s daughter, who worked at Aultman in Canton at the time, suggested she volunteer at AOH.

Annie serves at AOH’s front desk, where she greets patients and visitors, answers their questions and helps them find their way around the hospital. She also delivers mail, takes wheelchairs to patients and assists wherever she is needed.

She likes the variety involved in volunteering. “Every day is different,” she said. “Some days, we have so much to do that I’m busy the entire time I’m here. People seem so appreciative of volunteers. They know we’re doing this because we care.”

Outside the hospital, Annie loves sewing, quilting and baking. The specially designed quilts she made for her three adult children are among her favorite projects.

Annie and her husband Rick also like horseback riding, and she enjoys spending time with her six grandsons.

Annie also cherishes the enduring connections she made while spending summers as a child at an all-girls camp in New Hampshire. More than 50 years later, those friendships continue to thrive.

When asked what she would say to someone who’s considering volunteering at AOH, she said, “Try it – you might like it. If you really enjoy meeting people, you’ll find that it adds purpose and meaning to your life and keeps you going.”

If you’d like to volunteer at Aultman Health System, we have many opportunities available at our facilities in Alliance, Canton and Orrville. Visit aultman.org/volunteer for more information.