In honor of National Volunteer Week, April 6-13, United Memorial Medical Center held a dinner on April 8 at Bohn’s Restaurant to recognize volunteer service within the organization. Their gifts of time were spent assisting visitors, comforting family members waiting for a loved one in surgery, helping patients on Hope Haven, serving coffee at the refreshment kiosks at the Hospital and at the Jerome Center, and helping someone choose just the right item in the gift shop.
Their dedication and compassion assists United Memorial in caring for patients and visitors every day. Volunteers are part of our team and part of our UMMC family. We depend on them and turn to them when we need assistance on large projects or a helping hand. Last year, 85 individuals volunteered more than 13,500 hours. While we can measure the time they have donated, their true gifts of compassion, empathy and care is limitless.
This year, United Memorial and its auxiliaries, the UMMC League and St. Jerome Guild, Inc., honored volunteers who reached milestones in the cumulative number of hours they have volunteered. Guild members Sandy Colson, Jamie Kendall, Donna Morrow, and Mary Dee Ognibene received 100-hour pins; Jerry Pollino and Ann Valone were honored for 500 hours; Anita Rynkowski for 1,000 hours; Jeanette Attardi, Donna Condello and Geri Wiess for 2,000 hours; Guild Secretary and Gift Shop Cochair Marilyn Dickinson received her pin for 3,000 hours. Carmela Gualtieri has achieved 4,000 hours and Frances Scafetta 6,000 hours. Donna Morrow was also honored as the 2014 Guild Honorary Member.
United Memorial Medical Center League members who were honored include Bev Bennett, Joyce Diegelman, Carole Grooms, and Mary Sage for 300 hours; Norma Meyers for 500 hours; Nancy Arras, Carol Balaz, Anna Barone, and Kathy Bender for 1,000 hours; Diane Buchholtz and Lynn Houseknecht for 1,500 hours; Sharon Andrews and Diane Fraser for 2,000 hours; Kay Wickson for 3,000; and Linda Pembroke for 4,000 hours.
Augustine Fleming, has volunteered at United Memorial’s Hope Haven unit for over 7,500 hours. Her dedication to assisting patients recovering from addiction equals four years of full-time employment.
Volunteer recognition services are organized by United Memorial’s Volunteer Coordinator, Karen Tennity. To learn more about volunteer opportunities at United Memorial, call (585)344-7465 or visit us online at www.ummc.org/join-our-team/volunteers
