Stevens told a bit of a story in numbers as she touted that volunteer hours for the year totaled 10,215, as 220 different patients received volunteer support. In addition, volunteers saved Hospice of the Panhandle over $305,000 by serving in a variety of capacities. A required 5% match for Medicare of volunteer hours to staff hours was far exceeded, as volunteer hours were at 17%.
Nikki Bigiarelli, CEO of Hospice of the Panhandle, who stepped into the role this year, was on hand to thank all those who have served and continue to serve.
“The true definition of the heart of hospice are the volunteers,” she said. “Your service makes our mission more strong, more kind.”
She went on to add that each person’s “why” —why they choose to work with Hospice of the Panhandle —makes a difference in the lives of many that one may not ever realize.
Individuals volunteer in many roles, including patient support, where they help hospice patients and their families through providing a break for caregivers, assisting with household errands and similar chores and providing transportation. Others give their time as organizational volunteers, who assist the HOTP staff in the offices or in the inpatient facility. We Honor Veterans volunteers are military veterans who reach out to hospice patients who are also veterans.
Fundraising and public event volunteers help organize such things as health fairs and charity fairs. Professional services volunteers are licensed or certified to provide services such as haircuts, massage therapy, pet therapy and more.
Another category of volunteer is the legacy volunteer, who helps patients and families by creating lasting memories with them. Those volunteers may sew stuffed bears out of a patient’s clothing, help a patient write letters to their loved ones or make audio recordings of the patient talking to his or her family members.
Several specific volunteers were highlighted, as they reached milestone years of service. Those at five years of service included Kimberly Bell-Jackson, Alison Cox, Helen Darnell, Karone Finger, Dennis Fitzgerald, Stella Garrett, Angela Jones, Marcia Kemner, Pam Oumette, Bridget Roth and Scott Sassaman. Ten-year service recognition went to Nina Arnett, Ruth Bradley, Pam Cole, Matthew Lowe, Suzy Martz, Paula Myers and Akiko Pentony, while Pam Hoffman and Mark Noble were recognized for 15 years.
Sandi Whittaker has served as a volunteer for 20 years, while Judy Lilga and Donna Selby have served 25 years. G.T. Schramm, who currently serves as president of the board of directors, has served for 35 years.
The final recognition of the day was for the annual Volunteer of the Year designation. Stevens began describing the individual without giving a name, saying, “This volunteer has worked in the grief department helping with various needs — grief intake packets, mailing death anniversary packets and notes, organizing their space multiple times, books for revolving support groups and assisting with marketing needs as they came up since coming to us 10 years ago.
“But in March 2020, a week after we were shut down, we lost one of our longest tenured and dedicated volunteers, Theresa Goodman,” Stevens said, adding that Goodman had provided a key role as an “extra” marketing employee who assisted with every fundraiser.
Speaking of the grief she and others felt at Hospice of the Panhandle, Stevens said that the honoree for volunteer of the year stepped in.
“She knew the grief we were experiencing, she was caring, patient, picked a different day weekly to come to make things easier and most of all, has never tried to replace her,” she said.
Stevens shared additional information about the volunteer, including that despite suffering through some health issues, she still served 376 hours in 2022. She called forward Ruth Bradley to be recognized as the Volunteer of the Year for 2022.
“Because her momma was cared for by hospice for over a year, and she was the caregiver, she relates to our patients and families on an intimate level,” Stevens said. “She always says every time she comes to work, it’s her way of saying thank you for her mom’s care, and she’s helping another family be equipped to be an excellent caregiver, and she’s honoring her mother’s memory every time.”
Stevens presented Bradley with a glass heart in recognition of her volunteer service.
