By Mary Kate McKenna
“Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.” — Helen Dyer
As a working mother to five amazing children, I used to feel like volunteerism was something just outside of my grasp. Hindsight reveals that we all engage in simple, daily acts of giving, whether as a parent, friend, coworker, or neighbor. I appreciate looking back at those times when I was able to be an additional ‘voice at the table,’ an extra pair of hands, or a listening ear.
Though COVID-19 and pandemic restrictions affected every aspect of our community, it has filled me with gratitude and purpose to see our community reach out to ask, “How can I help?”
The offers of assistance provide me with a sense of belonging and a greater connection to my community and its members. I know together we can solve big problems, overcome challenges and reach out to our most vulnerable neighbors.
The Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation has a long history of supporting community and nonprofit organizations working determinedly for the health and wellness of our community. We are fueled by the dedication of volunteers and supporters who share our vision for a thriving community. We are grounded in the determination and caring of individuals who contribute their unique skills to the greater good.
Lynne Ryerson Baumgartner is one of these inspiring people. Baumgartner, a registered nurse at Adventist Health Mendocino Coast, was born and raised in Modesto with a family history of medicine. Her father was an anesthesiologist, and by the age of 16, she knew nursing was her calling. At 16, Baumgartner walked into a nursing home and asked for a job. She was hired immediately as a nursing aide, learning quickly with hands-on experience and from the wisdom of her mentors.
Baumgartner was a CNA for eight years while completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Public Health Nursing degree at the University of San Francisco. After graduating in 1977, she took her first RN job in Switzerland as a camp nurse for youth.
Baumgartner returned to the States and was hired at Oakland Children’s Hospital, where she worked for 15 years. During this time, she was recruited to work internationally, going first to Bangkok, Thailand, where she was one of 24 health workers serving in the Cambodian/Laotian refugee camps. A few years later, she traveled to Sudan to work at a Somalia/Ethiopian refugee camp. Baumgartner speaks with utter gratitude for the opportunity to experience nursing and life from so many perspectives. It underlines the importance of her profession and the universal language of caring for someone in their time of need.
After meeting her husband in Oakland, Baumgartner and her husband had their first child and moved to Fort Bragg, where her husband bought the local dental practice. Since that time, she has called the coast her home, being hired in 1988 by Mendocino Coast District Hospital. During her many years serving the coast, Baumgartner has worked in labor and delivery, the emergency room, outpatient surgery, ICU and many more — all while raising three kids!
Baumgartner speaks to the unlimited calling of nursing and the depth of experience, expertise and commitment we are so lucky to have at our local healthcare facilities.
Stories like this are a continuous inspiration and recommitment for myself, the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation and our Excellence in Nursing Initiative. The Excellence in Nursing Initiative supports our current nurses with funding for continued education to improve local capabilities and economic outcomes. The initiative supports programs to help nurses and provides a suite of scholarships to grow our local workforce.
If you are interested in learning more about the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation or would like to support our work by contributing or becoming a volunteer, please visit our website at MCHFoundation.org. Or feel free to call or email 707-961-4671, MaryKate@MCHFoundation.org.
