They wear their coats with pride. Red Coats are what volunteers call themselves at UPMC Chautauqua. The volunteers’ jobs vary around the hospital. Bill Rollinger greets people as they come through the doors and takes them to wherever they need to go. 

“When I go to a hospital, I always appreciate it when someone can help me,” Rollinger said. “You know, you just, calm you a little bit. Make things easier. You don’t worry about getting lost. You got enough worries to worry about the condition you’re in.”

Bill has some pretty memorable moments over the 18 years he’s worn his red coat. 

“I had a lady come in and she was not in good very good shape," Rollinger said. "She was ready to have her baby, so I got a wheelchair, put her in the wheelchair, took her down to the desk to the nurses and she had the baby in five minutes."

Tony Conti has guided people through the halls of UPMC Chautauqua for 12 years. He says it helps his get his steps in.

“I’m not going to brag but when I come in, get out of bed, come here — I do about 14,000 or 15,000 steps a day,” Conti said.

During the pandemic, Red Coats over the age of 65 could not volunteer. So from March 2020 to June 2021, Bill and Tony had to take a break. He got bored during the time he couldn’t volunteer. He’s glad to be back.

“It’s just enjoyable to give back to the community,” Conti said. “I really do. It gives me something to do. I look forward to it. I’m going to stay here as long as the good lord says I can’t do it no more.”

Many volunteers did not return in June due to the pandemic and are now in need of more. It’s been an impactful decrease as the volunteers can’t give the whole patient care experience they’d like to with less people. Mary Spitale began her journey as a Red Coat six months before the pandemic, and was one volunteer who did return this summer. 

“Especially now, it’s very important to volunteer,” Spitale said. “With the pandemic and people so down on their luck. I think it’s especially nice here at the hospital to be able to volunteer and help out during this time.”

For those interested in volunteering, you can email baronema3@upmc.edu or call 716-664-8423.