Saying Thanks to a Great Employer Employees in Concord Hospital’s Transport Department are always on the go, moving patients by wheelchair or wheeled stretchers to tests and treatment, 24 hoursa day. “Yes, we are very busy, busy, busy,” said transporter ElaineBumford. “Someone is always going for a test somewhere.” Between assignments, Elaine takes on another role, helping raise donations for the Hospital as her department’s ambassador for Concord Hospital Trust’s CHampions Employee Annual Giving Campaign. She also helps raise money for the Hospital’s employee Helping Hands Fund. Both tasks can be time consuming during a hectic day. Why does she do it? “Because it’s in my heart to do that,” Elaine said. “If people don’t volunteer to do those kinds of things, they won’t get done. If Ican squeeze in that time, I am going to do it.” At Concord Hospital Trust, Director of Annual Giving Gail Dexter coordinates the Hospital-wide CHampions campaign. Elaine and other department ambassadors distribute pledge forms to co-workers, answer their questions and arrange department meetings where co-workers can learn more about the campaign. Gail said the extra time ambassadors devote to fundraising is a valuable donation. “It’s a huge gift to our effort and to the Hospital,” she said.“Everybody at the Hospital is super busy, but that’s who our employees are – going above and beyond – and this is just one more way that they do that.” Elaine also has assembled baskets of goods with co-workers to be auctioned off with baskets from other Hospital departments and other donated items to benefit the Hospital’s Helping Hands Fund that support employees facing finacial emergencies. And, she supports the department’s team in the annual Merrimack County Savings Bank Rock ‘N Race 5K run/walk that raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for Concord Hospital Payson Center for Cancer Care. The team, David’s Angels, is named in memory of David Gage, who died of cancer. David’s sister, Debbie Coffin, works in the Transport Department and is the team leader. One year, Debbie, Elaine and the Transport team raised money for a tree marker plaque on the Hospital campus to honor David by selling baked goods and baskets of goods. For Elaine, being charitableis rewarding. “I always have thought that if you give, you get back,”Elaine said. What does she get back? “I just enjoy knowing that I am helping somebody.”