LENOIR, NC (May 30, 2018)…Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care recently honored its volunteers with a “Volunteers Light the Way”-themed banquet at The Jack & Shirley Robbins Center in Hudson. Approximately 200 people attended the annual appreciation event, which included dinner, entertainment and a recognition ceremony.
A number of volunteers were recognized for years of service to Caldwell Hospice, including seven long-time supporters who together have given a combined 180 years of service to the organization. Dr. Robert Belk and Joyce Clifton were recognized for 35 and 30 years of service respectively; Reba Barlow, Irene Duncan and Ray Hammerick for 25 years each; and Virginia Roberson and Debra Woodard for 20 years of service each.
Also recognized was volunteer Jeff Linn as the 2017 recipient of the Spirit of Hospice Award through The Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care, honoring extraordinary hospice volunteers in North and South Carolina. The award is presented annually to a hospice volunteer from North and South Carolina who uses humor effectively, creatively, and compassionately in their work with hospice and further demonstrates the hospice spirit of living each day fully. “As a volunteer, Jeff is willing to try anything we ask of him,” says Brittany Bonn, volunteer coordinator for Caldwell Hospice. “He serves patients in homecare, long-term care facilities and at our patient care units. He provides 11th Hour support, makes Veterans Honoring Veterans recognition presentations to our patients who served in the armed forces, and helps facilitate the Virtual Dementia Tour® to educate our community. No matter the task, Jeff finds a way to incorporate his joie de vivre into all of the work he does for Caldwell Hospice.”
Caldwell Hospice volunteers contributed 12,060 hours of service during the 2016-17 fiscal year, accepted 404 patient and family assignments, and presented 68 Veterans Honoring Veterans ceremonies.
“Our volunteers offered many other kindnesses that aren’t captured in a report and can’t be quantified. We are so grateful to all the volunteers who work tirelessly for our patients and families all year long,” said Bonn. “We could not provide the level of service that we do without them.”
More than 300 volunteers (including adults and volunTEENs) assist with clerical duties, patient-and-family visits, special projects, yard work, or whatever is asked of them. For information or to register for Caldwell Hospice’s next adult volunteer training sessions, scheduled for August 14 and 16, call 828.754.0101 or email volunteercoordinator@caldwellhospice.org.