Driving better care at St. Vincent’s Southside

In Jacksonville, Florida, Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside volunteer Tommy Mouro knows that creating a healing environment often begins before a visitor reaches the hospital doors. 

“I’m the first person they see coming into this hospital,” Tommy said. “At my age, I’ve been through it all, so I know how important it is to have the right impression. If I can help them or talk to them a bit to break the ice, it can hopefully make their experience better.”

For the past two years, he has been operating the parking lot shuttle with a stash of candy and a mission to make it easier for visitors to get to their destination.

His journey to becoming a volunteer at the hospital didn't start with a formal recruitment event. It began with four weeks of walking through the hospital doors to visit his brother who was at St. Vincent’s Southside receiving care. During those visits, he kept noticing the shuttle cart used to transport patients and visitors from the parking lot.

“I’m retired and I thought, this might not be a bad thing for me to do,” Tommy said. “I talked to the staff, filled out the paperwork, and about a month later I was driving the cart.”

Tommy quickly realized that the service he loved providing was being hindered by the equipment he was using, which was aging and didn’t feature a wheelchair lift. So he decided to take the matter into his own hands and began pricing one out that was accessible for all visitors.

A timely phone call from a friend of over 15 years, Bob Fuller, changed everything. Fuller’s mother had started the Windover Foundation, and he encouraged Tommy to apply for a grant for the cart.

“After waiting a year, Bob told me, ‘Help is on the way,’” Tommy said. “He’s an amazing man.”

For Tommy, the cart is a tool for connection. He is well-known among associates and visitors for handing out candy, amateur photography and offering a sense of hope to those going through difficult times. Whether he’s teasing an associate or helping a worried family member, his goal is to ensure no one feels alone in the parking lot.

“I get a lot out of it,” shared Tommy. “If someone is standing or walking and not in the cart, I’m not happy. I want to be doing something for somebody.”

As the hospital prepares for the new cart to begin its rounds, it carries a deep personal significance for Tommy. While he sought the grant to help the hospital, the project was also a way to honor his family.

“When the new cart arrives, I’m having a plaque put on it in memory of my son,” Tommy said.

Through his persistence and a bit of help from an old friend, Tommy has made it a priority that a visit to St. Vincent’s Southside is one of care, comfort and community starting at the parking lot. For those considering following in his footsteps, Tommy believes the motivation is simple.

“If they want to do it, they already have that desire to help people in their heart,” he said.

Visit our website for more information on how to volunteer as a golf cart driver at one of our hospitals.