Volunteers with the Schneck Medical Center Guild play a vital role in providing services and raising funds for the Seymour hospital.
Their dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed by staff, patients and their families and visitors.
Earlier this month, the volunteers were recognized for their service during the annual guild luncheon at Woodlawn Life Celebration Centre in Seymour. Volunteers, hospital staff and attendees were welcomed to the event by volunteer manager Amy Cockerham.
Achieving milestones of 18,275 hours of service in 2017, those volunteers already have donated 14,000 hours through August. They are well on their way to reaching a goal of 20,000 hours in 2018.
Volunteers with the most hours of service were among those recognized. That included Norma Plummer and Barb Smith with 5,000 hours; Jan Heideman, 4,000; Andrea Zagata, 3,000; Barb Otte and Mildred Sease, 2,000; Dave Meginnis, 1,000; Judy Wichman, 500; and Bob Downey, Jan Hines and Charlotte Ross, 100.
This year’s theme was “Schneck volunteers, building the patient experience.” Some of the attendees donned hardhats and yellow work vests to go along with the building theme.
“We live in a fast-paced world where everyone is busy,” said Warren Forgey, president and chief executive officer at Schneck. “I am proud to be associated with each member of the Schneck Medical Center Guild for dedicating a portion of your very valuable time to helping others.”
Forgey said those donating hours of service truly epitomize the meaning of the word “volunteer” as they serve selflessly. He also said how much the volunteers’ service is valued and appreciated by the Schneck staff and more importantly by the patients they serve.
There are many areas of the hospital where volunteers serve, including the gift shop, emergency department, hospice and information desk, just to name a few.
The guild also is very active in fundraising. The group has donated $62,000 in 2018 and plans to donate an additional $88,000 toward a new intensive care unit in conjunction with the ongoing construction project currently underway, Cockerham said.
The guild also supports many projects and programs; two parking lot shuttles; a junior volunteer program; Kim Quilleon Varnell Junior Volunteer Memorial Scholarship; pediatric toy totes for all pediatric admissions; cancer baskets to newly diagnosed cancer patients; and prayer shawls for hospice patients.
Cockerham said there is a discretionary fund through patient services that benefits a large variety of needs for patients.
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For information about volunteering at Schneck Medical Center, call Amy Cockerham at 812-522-0439.
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