Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach

Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), 4930 LaVerna Road, Springfield, IL.

Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach partners with organizations, hospitals, and clinics around the world with the shared goal to improve health outcomes for individuals and communities.

We had a wonderful group from HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital Effingham this afternoon! Four colleagues made the tr...
05/14/2026

We had a wonderful group from HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital Effingham this afternoon! Four colleagues made the trek to Springfield to learn more about Mission Outreach and go through the volunteer experience. It’s wonderful to see the dedication to HSHS’ mission come alive in the employees who come through our doors. Thank you to this lovely group who are now a part of Mission Outreach’s story!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT!!!Helen began volunteering at Mission Outreach in March 2024. She is one of our second sorters and i...
05/13/2026

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT!!!

Helen began volunteering at Mission Outreach in March 2024. She is one of our second sorters and is our honorary “blood pressure lady.” Helen had read about Mission Outreach and went on a medical mission trip to Ghana with Doctors Agamah where she learned a bit more from them, so she decided to start volunteering when she retired in January 2024. Her favorite thing about Mission Outreach is the mission and what we’re able to do for other people and countries. She said, “It helps me identify things that these hospitals need when I’m on a medical mission trip.”

Helen attended University of Illinois Chicago for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She graduated with her masters in nurse midwifery in 1999, then was hired by SIU as their first midwife (also in 1999). Before obtaining her master’s degree, Helen worked in oncology for a couple years, then moved to ICU, then home health. She then transferred to labor and delivery in 1993, and that’s when she decided what she wanted to do the rest of her life. During her time with SIU, Helen also helped establish a rural prenatal clinic in Girard, IL and at Central Counties Health Center, and she has taught many med and nursing students. Helen finally retired in 2024, but that has not stopped her from still going on medical mission trips!

Helen’s favorite hobby is traveling internationally. Her top three trips have been to Italy, Ghana and Tanzania (both medical mission trips), and Barcelona/Paris. Helen is also very active and still takes ballet and yoga classes as well as acting classes. She has been doing ballet practically her entire life. She also loves to knit and sew. If she could have dinner with any famous person dead or alive, she would choose Mother Theresa because of “who she was and how she came from such humble beginnings and she didn’t feel worthy of God’s love. I’ve always found that to be such an interesting concept.”

When asked what Helen would say to someone who was thinking about volunteering at Mission Outreach, she said, “Do it. You get to meet other like-minded people, and I get to reconnect with people I used to work with.”

Helen is a wonderfully caring and genuine person and really knows how to make someone’s day! We’re so fortunate to have her on our team and wouldn’t trade her for the world. Let’s show Helen some love! 💙

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who celebrate!
05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms who celebrate!

05/06/2026

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Next Tuesday (May 5), Mission Outreach and Solidarity Bridge are shipping out our first container valued at over $1 mill...
05/02/2026

Next Tuesday (May 5), Mission Outreach and Solidarity Bridge are shipping out our first container valued at over $1 million to a hospital in Bolivia.

Last night, we held a container blessing with Solidarity Bridge that was so special. We are blessed beyond words to have a wonderful partnership with them, but also to have such amazing people to celebrate this with us!

Thank you to all who make this work possible no matter how large or small your part has been. We wouldn’t be here without the hard work and dedication of so many people.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT!!!Jay Rees is one of our warehouse associates and has been since July 8,2024. However, Jay worked for...
05/01/2026

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT!!!

Jay Rees is one of our warehouse associates and has been since July 8,2024. However, Jay worked for the Sisters at the Motherhouse for 36 years before coming here! He was in food service for nine years, then switched over to the maintenance team where he would mow, garden, and take care of the koi pond when it was still there. Jay’s favorite thing about Mission Outreach is that it’s a new challenge from what he was doing for so long.

In his free time, Jay loves to throw darts, sing karaoke, and he has his own DJ business. You now know who to call for your next wedding or big event! His favorite hobby is collecting baseball cards. Jay has around 30,000 cards, and according to him, that isn’t a lot of baseball cards. Jay has a few that are of value including an autographed Derek Jeter and one of Nolan Ryan. He loves collecting them for the sport and stats.

If Jay received an all expenses paid vacation, he would travel to the Polynesian islands, specifically Tonga and Samoa. Jay is very interested in their culture and would love to see it first-hand. If he were to move anywhere in the world, he would go back to Hawaii. Jay lived there from 1985 to 1987 for a two-year missionary trip, and he definitely left his heart there. He loves the people, culture, and beaches. He said, “There are all walks of life and people throughout the whole world who live there. It’s the true melting pot of the world.”

If Jay could have dinner with one famous person, it would be with Frank Lloyd Wright because he really enjoyed architecture in high school and continues to learn about it. Jay said Wright was very ahead of his time when it comes to designing buildings.

Jay is one of the hardest working, loyal, and determined people we know, and we are so lucky to have him on our team! His dedication and passion for Mission Outreach is very obvious every day. Next time you see him, make sure you ask him about his baseball cards and Frank Lloyd Wright. The excitement he has for them is contagious!

Sister Ritamary has been volunteering with Mission Outreach since January 12, 2024. She said she was at a point in her l...
04/29/2026

Sister Ritamary has been volunteering with Mission Outreach since January 12, 2024. She said she was at a point in her life where she was looking for a new opportunity. She was aware of Mission Outreach and “had a high regard for the program” that fit her desire and ability to serve the underserved. Sister Ritamary’s favorite thing about Mission Outreach is the people and how great the work environment is.

Sister Ritamary entered the convent in 1957 and spent three years completing spiritual education and development. She then received her Bachelor of Arts in dietetics from Fontbonne College in St. Louis, MO in 1964, her Master of Science in Institutional Management from Purdue University in 1972, and Master of Science in Hospital Administration in 1985. During all of that, she was the Director of Food Services at St. Francis Hospital in Washington, MO 1966-68, the Director of Food and Nutrition Services at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL 1969-1985, Assistant Administrator at St. Elizabeth’s in Belleville (now O’Fallon) 1986-2006, a Consultant for HSHS Jan 2007 – April 2007, a Senior Advisor for Community Benefit and Public Policy Support for HSHS from May 2007 - 2011, and Policy and Mission Work at St. Mary’s Decatur from 2011 to 2022 before she retired. She has also been on many Board of Directors for St. John’s Hospital (Springfield, IL), St. Joseph’s Hospital (Highland, IL), St. Mary’s Hospital (Decatur, IL), Chamber of Commerce (Belleville, IL), and many more.

Sister Ritamary loves listening to classical music (specifically Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, and Mozart), read (her favorites are The Boys of Summer, The Winds of War, and The Seven Storey Mountain), walk, and cook. Sister Ritamary is known for her pies and cheesecakes. If she could have dinner with any famous person dead or alive, she would choose Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk. Sister Ritamary said he was very intelligent and was a wonderful educator and author. She has read many of his books.
When asked what she would say to someone thinking about volunteering at Mission Outreach, Sister Ritamary said, “Volunteering at Mission Outreach gives you a great sense of accomplishment of being appreciated and getting the opportunity to meet wonderful, dedicated individuals.”

Sister Ritamary always brings joy and excitement to Mission Outreach. Her unwavering dedication to the mission never goes unnoticed, and we are so grateful for her years of service!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT!!!Cheryl is one of our surgical sort volunteers and has been since March 2022. Her friend (who is al...
04/24/2026

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT!!!

Cheryl is one of our surgical sort volunteers and has been since March 2022. Her friend (who is also a surgical sort volunteer) was telling her about Mission Outreach, so Cheryl decided to just go ahead and sign up! When asked what her favorite thing about Mission Outreach is, Cheryl said, “From the moment you start, you just feel like you belong – like you’re never an outsider. The whole team is welcoming, and I feel like we’re making a difference.”

Cheryl graduated from Lincoln Land Community College and moved straight to Oregon to begin her career as a floating night shift nurse. She then got the opportunity to learn about OR and “loved it from the moment she walked in there.” Cheryl then moved to Washington to do the same thing, then came back to Springfield to begin her career at St. John’s Hospital in 1995 for an ENT urology specialty group. She then became the manager of the Pavilion Day Surgery in 2000, then swore she would never be a manager again, but we’ve seen that movie a few times. She became a manager again at Memorial Hospital until she retired in 2011, but she didn’t have enough work because she continued working part time until 2021. She spent most of that time still with Memorial Hospital, but she also spent time working with SIU visiting prisons to audit inmates’ medical records and deaths.

In her free time, Cheryl loves to take pottery classes at the Springfield Art Association. She’s been taking these classes for three years and loves having that creative outlet. She also loves to read, garden (mostly perennials), and spend time with her beautiful grandchildren. If she could have dinner with any famous person dead or alive, she would choose Michelle Obama because she is “classy, smart, down to earth, and is just a cool person.”

When asked what she would say to someone thinking about volunteering at Mission Outreach, Cheryl said, “Try it out! Even if you don’t have a medical background, there is so much to be done, and it gives you purpose. It’s nice to find a community where you can help others in need with the medical knowledge I have.”

Anyone who is able to work with Cheryl is blessed and leaves a happier person because of the joy she brings to Mission Outreach. We are so lucky to have her on our team! Let’s show her some love in the comments!

04/23/2026

We had an amazing time celebrating our volunteers today at our fourth annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon!

We say it all the time, but we’re completely serious when we talk about how much time, energy, and dedication our volunteers give Mission Outreach. The love, joy, and camaraderie we felt in this room today blew us all away, and we couldn’t feel more blessed to be able to work alongside some of the best people we know.

Thank you to all our volunteers who make Mission Outreach continue standing, who bring their most authentic and joyful attitudes, and who give their all. We wouldn’t be here without you. 💙

Address

4930 LaVerna Road
Springfield, IL
62707

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+12174926146

Website

https://www.globalsistersreport.org/columns/ministry/promise-life-begins-clean-bi

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