Meet Dennis Miranda, Our Featured Volunteer from New Orleans!
Get to know our volunteers!
Do you volunteer at a specific hospital? I volunteer at the University Medical Center at UMC.
How long have you been volunteering with Musicians On Call? I have been volunteering since December of 2018.
Are you a volunteer guide or musician? Guide
Do you have any hidden talents? I help friends with personal finances, retirement, and social security. I also know all the words to Beatles songs and many songs from the 60s. I sing in my car, at home and kill it in the shower!
What is your story? What connects you with music and why do you volunteer with MOC? Music has always been my go-to. It’s good for the soul. I got involved with MOC after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Having survived one of the darkest moments in New Orleans history and witnessing some horrific sites, I found myself trashing my car, work and home keys o the same day. My mother, brothers, and I all lost our homes from the flooding and we had to rely on distant friends and strangers for assistance. I learned that people who know nothing about you can change your life in an instant and that people who help rebuild your life, also rebuild your heart.
What makes MOC different from your other volunteer experiences? I’m not sure there is a big difference. I volunteer with the Miracle League of Greater New Orleans which is coaching disabled kids in sports. I also volunteer with the American Cancer Society driving patients to appointments. When I make someone’s day, my day is better.
Has your life changed because of your experience with Musicians On Call? Yes, I’ve come to realize how impactful our visits are. When you give back, you get back.
What is your favorite #MOCmoment? When a patient began to cry and said, “This is better than medicine”.
