Carol Mittler may not be a physician, nurse or other medical professional — but she’s ready to lend a hand at Ranken Jordan—A Pediatric Specialty Hospital in Maryland Heights.

In fact, she's been doing so for the last seven years. All told, Mittler has logged more than 1,300 hours of volunteer time.

Mittler said she loves the idea of being around children. Before lending a hand at Ranken Jordan, she was a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher for many years.

“Once you see a little smile on their face, and then get to see them go home, you are blessed,” she said.

The children at Ranken Jordan need someone to love them if their parents aren’t there, Mittler said, and to tell them “Mommy and Daddy will be here when they can.”

Ranken Jordan’s Volunteer and Customer Service Manager Rebekah Manwarring described Mittler as an “I’ll do anything” kind of volunteer. Mittler is very energetic and has a positive attitude, Manwarring said.

While she generally works in the hospital’s nursery, Manwarring said Mittler has also helped in other areas like office work and buying supplies.

The hospital has 229 active volunteers who come in weekly, Manwarring said. Coordinators ask volunteers to serve at least 40 hours before they end their association with the hospital.

Ranken Jordan is not hard-up for volunteers at the moment, however. Manwarring said the hospital currently has a wait-list for interested people.

While the other Ranken Jordan volunteers lend hands in various ways around the facility, Mittler enjoys using her voice to sooth the youngest children in the hospital’s care.

“I do a lot of singing to them,” she said.