The office party is a cliché we all know: co-workers stand awkwardly around a conference room, making idle
small talk and munching on tired, store-bought refreshments under a few droopy
streamers and balloons.
But the Pulmonary Clinic has found a way to break through this cliché. They combine office celebrations with volunteer efforts, and participation has
skyrocketed.
It all started with the Work of Life Committee, the Pulmonary Clinic’s organizing body that usually planned office parties and recognized birthdays.
About a year ago, they decided to shift focus to helping in the community, and
the committee has never been more popular.
“It is more investing to give to others in need than to do for ourselves,” said Janet Morris, administrative assistant. “Now, we get more people wanting to participate and hear more feedback about it
afterward.”
Morris estimates that 60 percent of the staff participates regularly in Work of
Life activities.
The first service activity the committee organized was a trip to the Nashville
Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter for men, women and children, and those
visits soon became a signature event. They return monthly to serve meals at the
shelter and try to get at least five people to commit to each visit.
Wendi Mason, interstitial lung disease coordinator, enjoys the opportunity to
help others while socializing with co-workers outside the work setting.
“It’s not the same mundane work tasks, and people are completely different outside
work. It’s very rewarding and helps bring us together. It unifies us,” she said. “Back from the Mission, people talk about how it makes them feel. You get a
wonderful feeling and realize that you are incredibly blessed to have a home,
food on the table and a job.”
On their most recent visit, Mason estimates they served lunch to 200-300 people.
The crew included four Pulmonary Clinic staff members and two teenage
relatives. Staff is always encouraged to include their family members in all
Work of Life activities.
