Like many who retire, Terry Frieboes had plans.
BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — Like many who retire, Terry Frieboes had plans.
Terry’s plans were to crotchet and rock babies to sleep. She has been volunteering in the NICU for a year and a half.
“When I’m with the babies, it’s just the babies. They are great to be able to hold. And it’s just rewarding to know that they like to be held,” Frieboes said.
Frieboes says that her volunteer work is important. Not only for the babies but for the families as well.
“If a parent has to go home, maybe they have other children at home. Or they live out of town and cannot be with their baby all the time. Then maybe we can bring a little bit of peace of mind to them, even though they have cameras they can watch their baby all the time. Just for them to know that someone is in there able to hold it for a little while,” Frieboes explained.
Frieboes states that the decision to rock babies during her spare time was an easy one to make.
“I’ve loved babies since I was little. My mom ran a daycare and we had a lot of babies. So to be able to come in and just hold them and rock them gives me a feeling of peace. You just sit there and be able to look at them and touch them and just give that peace,” Frieboes recalled.
Christina Martin, the manager of Spiritual Care and volunteer services at Sanford told KX News that programs thrive with the help of volunteers.
“We have around 100 volunteers in the Bismarck Market at Sanford. And they volunteer in a variety of roles including baby rocking to working with adults in our in-patient unit, we call that our VIP program to helping wrangle wheelchairs to mentoring cancer patients to a wide range of things. We even have people that knit and quilt at home,” Martin explained.
Those interested in volunteering are asked to reach out to Chris Martin in Spiritual Services or complete an application online. The minimum age for volunteering is 16.
To volunteer for baby rocking, applicants must be at least 19 years old. Those wishing to apply can do so here.