BAY MINETTE, Ala. — If all had gone according to plan, Dorothy Kerin, 87, would not be in Bay Minette. Visitors to North Baldwin Infirmary would not see her smile as they come into the hospital.

And she would not have had to take a drug test.

“My children were amused,” said Kerin with a smile, explaining that a test for illicit drugs (not what is prescribed) is part of being a volunteer at North Baldwin Infirmary.

Kerin and her husband, Thomas, ran a restaurant in Elizabeth City, N.C., but moved to Bay Minette a few years ago at the request of their daughter, Dorothy White, the director of volunteers and guest relations manager/patient advocate at NBI.

Thomas Kerin died a few years ago, and she still mourns her husband. They were married 42 years.

“We had a perfect marriage,” Kerin said. “We were together every day,”

While she does not think she will ever get over losing her husband, Kerin eventually began volunteering at the hospital. Her “beat” is the front desk where the surgery department and admitting is located. Volunteers are sometimes called auxilians.

“It’s a really wonderful thing,” said Kerin. “We have an opportunity to show people we are with them. They come in upset, and there is somebody to tell them where to go and let them know there is somebody there.”

White said, “Right now we are getting ready to help with the renovation/refurbishment of the cafeteria/conference room project. The last two years we gave over $30,000 to the hospital for the digital mammography unit that was purchased. We furnish supplies for the patient — toothpaste, toothbrushes, Listerine, combs, etc., and we man the needed stations to assist people when they come to the hospital. They offer family and friends coffee when they are waiting for a patient and keep them informed.

“These volunteers are most compassionate and caring. They meet people at the front door with a wheelchair, and comfort them when they are scared and frustrated. This hospital depends on these volunteers to meet the public and welcome them when they come to our hospital.

“Our patient surveys have proven over and over again that we have a caring hospital, not just efficient in what we do, but that we care and this speaks for the volunteers and the employees here.”

White added that NBI has 120 auxilians — 45 active and 93 inactive. Inactive auxilians “contribute funds, attend fundraisers, bake goodies for our bake sales to make money for the hospital projects we take on,” according to White.

“There are a lot of wonderful ladies there,” said Kerin. “We lunch together.” She especially relishes talking to Eloise Gurganus, a fellow volunteer about her age.

“I am glad to do something that helps people,” Kerin said.