A Passion For Helping Others Fuels One Veteran’s Mission

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Reginald Dumas. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

When patients come through the doors of the West Roxbury VA Medical Center in Boston, Reginald Dumas is eagerly waiting.

A decorated military veteran, Reginald serves as a Red Coat Ambassador at the facility, one of the busiest VA medical centers in New England. For veterans seeking medical care, many of whom are dealing with serious health issues, the experience of visiting the complex can be an overwhelming one. But for Reggie, it’s an opportunity to put a smile on their faces.

While Reggie’s gregarious demeanor is one of his most appreciated assets, his responsibilities at the VA Medical Center go far beyond serving as a friendly face. Whether he’s guiding patients with mobility issues through the massive facility to their appointments or working to improve patient-centered care, Reggie’s focus is always on the people who need it most.

“I’m a soldier’s soldier,” says Reggie, who has volunteered at the VA Medical Center for over a decade. “That’s what I’m there for. One day I might be in their place. I don’t care what race or nationality you are. I love to help. That’s the way I am. I believe in helping.”

In addition to being a shining light for the patients that come through the medical center’s doors, Reggie is a favorite among the staff and volunteers. At well over six feet tall, his towering presence is hard to miss. However, it’s his ability to connect with the veterans and their families that patients truly identify with.

“He greets, but he also does so much more than that,” says Peter Tribuna, voluntary service specialist at the VA Boston. “Our ambassadors are full of information. As you can suppose, there are quite a few older veterans that don’t really know the system or where they are. Ambassadors direct people to appointments and help them around if they need a push. But they not only assist the veteran, but often the veterans’ loved ones. They guide, comfort and inform.”

Because of his background traveling the world as a member of the United States Army, Reggie has the unique ability to understand how to help his fellow veterans and their families navigate the complex system.

“Reggie is specifically beneficial because he is a veteran and he knows the VA system, which is kind of hard to get around,” says Tribuna. “It’s just an entity that has a lot of different peculiarities.”

If you ask Reggie what the most rewarding part of his volunteer work is, he’ll tell you it’s “being blessed to help others.”

“At home and during COVID, some veterans didn’t have anybody to talk to. So, when they come into the VA Center and I see them sitting down waiting for their appointment, I go out and make sure they’re okay,” Reggie shares. “When you have a good heart, you will be blessed.”

At 70 years old, Reggie is showing no sign of slowing down in his volunteer role. In fact, he says he’ll never stop being of service. His tireless devotion to bettering the lives of his fellow veterans is a strong example of the altruistic power of volunteerism.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Reginald? Find local volunteer opportunities.