Today, a patient’s state-of-mind is recognized as a key factor in recovery and well being. The Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy volunteers meet this critical medical need by visiting people in hospitals and nursing homes. In their darkest hour, feeling alone, afraid, and in pain, thousands of patients encounter something they never expected: “Hi, it’s Raggedy Ann, would you like a visit?”

Under the mop-top wig are many undergraduate students, who plan to enter the health care professions. By volunteering with Adventures in Caring they gain life skills, build emotional intelligence, and learn to listen to patients. Many of these future doctors will enter medical school with an understanding of the power of compassion that will carry them through rigorous years of medical studies.

Adventures in Caring often receives comments from the doctors and nurses in the facilities our volunteers visit. Many are themselves encouraged by the warmth brought to the halls, the rooms and the patients as Raggedys go on their daily rounds. Noticing how our Raggedys gracefully handled emotionally sensitive situations. They asked, “How do you train your volunteers so well? Can you teach our people the same skills?”

Karen and Simon Fox responded to this need by developing a workshop, a book, and a video, passing on their unique communication skills and experience. These service-learning tools are now used by more than 3,000 organizations nationwide. Hospitals, hospices, churches, charities, and colleges use them to teach staff, students, and volunteers how to communicate with compassion.