80-Year-Old Local Volunteers Offer Wit and Dedication

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Pat and Roy Line are quite the pair.

“Ones the brains and ones the brawn,” said Pat. “I’m not gonna say who.”

The brain and brawn, now retired, have been volunteers at St. Luke’s Hospital for years delivering internal mail.

“You meet the people and its socializing,” said Roy. “It’s good for us, it really is.”

From start to finish they deliver mail to five different buildings which equals about 4 miles of walking per shift.

“We’re pretty good, we’re ahead of it,” said Pat.

“They really compliment staff in providing extra services,” St. Luke’s Director of Volunteer Services Mary Matlack said. “Things we couldn’t provide without them just to make the patient experience a little better a little more comfortable

Their is day is packed with strides up and down hallways and on elevators.

“Gives you a certain amount of self-satisfaction of doing this,” said Roy.

Dozens of pieces of mail are dropped off along with friendly smiles and conversations.

“The best part is all of the staff, the doctors, the nurses the gift shop,” said Pat. “Everybody that we meet and then the whole public.”

Volunteering through the hospital corridors began long ago with Pat.

“They said don’t push the basket anymore up the hill it’s too heavy,” said Pat.

So she recruited Roy who is now the muscle behind the operation.

“Working as a partnership you know,” said Roy.

Aside from this partnership the dynamic duo got married when they were 73-years-old but their friendship started more than 40 years ago.

“Since we were kids we lived one house apart,” said Pat.

After going their separate ways they reunited.

“Roy and I got together again so we been together ever since and we’re getting up their now,” said Pat.

Between the two of them they have 5 kids, 10 grandkids and 14 great grandchildren.

“We also have a timeshare in Hawaii,” said Roy.

Pretty adventurous lives they live but Pat and Roy are not leaving their messenger gig at St. Luke’s anytime soon.

“We plan on continuing to do this until they decide they don’t us anymore,” said Roy.

National Volunteer Week kicks off this Sunday.

If you would like to volunteer with St. Luke’s contact the volunteer office 218-249-5343 or on their website at http://www.slhduluth.com/