Why I Volunteer Cirillo

by Paula McCarl

Air Force Veteran William “Bill” Cirillo,77, has been a volunteer at VA Butler Healthcare for six years accumulating 2,085 hours of service. When asked why he volunteers at VA Butler, Cirillo stated that it is his way of giving back to those who took care of him when he was a resident at the facility.

“I enjoy coming in and seeing the people and feeling useful…it keeps me busy,” comments Cirillo about his volunteer service. “The VA took such good care of me and this is my way of giving back to them and the Veterans.” Cirillo volunteers several days a week fluxuating between the recreational therapy and behavioral health departments providing clerical support and helping with patient activities. His specialty is coordinating a poker game with the residents each week.

VA’s voluntary service is one of the largest volunteer programs in the federal government. In the past 64 years, VA volunteers have donated 724.3 million hours of service worth an estimated $261.6 million dollars. VA Butler Healthcare currently maintains a volunteer force of 391 regularly scheduled volunteers who provide a myriad of services such as greeting Veterans and welcoming them to the facility, and driving Veterans to and from their VA medical appointments

For more information about VA Butler’s volunteer program and how you can help make the lives of Veterans better, contact Paula McCarl, Voluntary Services Coordinator, at             724-285-2575 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 724-285-2575 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email: paula.mccarl@va.gov.