Mercy is getting ready for a week that brings people together in the best way possible, through simple acts of service that reflect a remarkable legacy. Mercy’s Day of Service honors Sister Mary Roch Rocklage, an icon in health care whose steady service and can-do spirit shaped who we are today.
This year’s service week kicks off March 1 across every community Mercy serves in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. The day of service was first established in 2023 in honor of Sister Roch, a Sister of Mercy and the first president and CEO of the Mercy system, who passed away in 2022. Sister Roch was known for her giving spirit, which goes hand in hand with volunteering.
Aundria Goree, Mercy’s executive director of community health, says community health leaders across the entire Mercy system work to coordinate hundreds of opportunities for Mercy co-workers.
Volunteer activities may include loading boxes at a local food bank in St. Louis, serving meals at The Salvation Army in Oklahoma City, power washing furniture at a homeless campus in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and more.
Co-workers who volunteer during the year can utilize Mercy’s Volunteer Time Off (VTO) program. Established in 2022, the VTO program provides co-workers with time to volunteer during work hours at local nonprofits or community events and still get paid. Since the volunteer time off program launched, thousands of co‑workers across Mercy have stepped forward to give their time to local organizations.
Together, they have contributed tens of thousands of volunteer hours, showing how small acts of service can add up to real support for the communities we call home.
The program reflects a long tradition at Mercy. With more than 50,000 co‑workers across multiple states and care sites, even a single hour of service strengthens the connection between Mercy teams and the people we serve. It also carries on Sister Roch’s belief that we exist to serve and that giving time is one of the simplest ways to care for others.
Volunteer work does more than benefit communities. Research shows it can support mental and physical health, create a sense of purpose and help people build new relationships while strengthening the ones they already have, said Kristen Goree.
The volunteer time off program is only one example of how Mercy continues to invest in its communities. Each year, Mercy provides significant support through free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid, to help meet the needs of the people and neighborhoods we serve.
