Volunteer Bio: Jean Murray

Sales Assistant at Seasons Gift Shop

Jean Murray is proud to volunteer as a Sales Assistant in Seasons Gift Shop at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. “We really try to promote the fact that it is owed by volunteers. A lot of people think Seasons Gift Shop is a private business or owned by the hospital.”

Proudly owned and operated by volunteers, all Seasons Gift Shop profits are donated to the Volunteer Association to be used to purchase patient care equipment.

Ten years ago, when Jean retired from a busy career managing several local Hallmark stores, a couple of her friends who volunteered at Seasons convinced her to give it a try.

Today, Jean has logged over 2300 volunteer hours. “It’s a lot of fun. I see people I haven’t seen in ages. I’ve made friends and I’ve learned a lot about the hospital.”

While Seasons Gift Shop has a very important role as a fundraiser for the hospital, it also offers a gift for every occasion, as well as confectionary and personal items. “It’s convenient for people in the hospital,” Jean says. “They can get a gift or flowers for a loved one in hospital. We chat with people who come in and help give them ideas for a gift.”

A few years after she began volunteering, Jean was asked to take on a leadership role with the Volunteer Association Board where she still serves today and chairs the Gift Shop Committee.

Jean is also a mother of two, with two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. When she isn’t busy volunteering at Seasons Gift Shop or participating in the Volunteer Association’s monthly meetings, Jean also volunteers as Property Chair for Trinity United Church and enjoys sewing, knitting, and crafts.