By Kim Powell, Northwest Region

Nancy Honig has dedicated nearly 20 years to volunteering with the American Red Cross, including 15 years serving in the pharmacy at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Clinic.

After years as a stay-at-home mom and grandmother, Nancy continued her commitment to caring for others by volunteering with the Red Cross at Madigan Army Medical Center. A need she learned about at McChord led her to begin serving there.

She first supported patients in a family practice clinic by checking them in and working in the records department for five years. Then she transitioned into the pharmacy, where she still serves.

A typical shift for Nancy starts with opening the pharmacy window and helping patients receive their refill medications. She also assists with scanning and organizing verified prescriptions into the system. Whether it’s a standard 4-hour shift or a longer day, she stays busy ensuring patients are supported.

What she enjoys most is working with patients — the interaction and being able to help them receive the medications they need.

One moment that stood out came during a particularly busy day with staffing challenges, when the team was working hard to get medications out as quickly as possible. A patient gave Nancy a note thanking her for her help. She shared that the thank-you reminded her that patients notice the effort, and it made her happy.

Nancy believes the most important quality for this role is to enjoy working with people.

Her advice to anyone considering volunteering: “It fulfills you. Helping people - even if it’s just one person - you know you really made a difference.”