3HC recognizes local volunteers at annual banquet
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 1, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Outstanding volunteers were recognized for service to 3HC and Kitty Askins Hospice Center on Thursday evening, and Kay Bradley of Goldsboro, far right, was presented with the Governor's Volunteer Service Award. From left, Goldsboro recipients Pamela Dyson and Linda Orr, three-year service awards; Norma Carol McDonald, five-year service award; Kitty Askins volunteers Bridgette Barfield and Faye Montague, three-year service awards; and Ms. Bradley.
Outstanding volunteers serving 3HC and Kitty Askins Hospice Center were recognized for service to patients and families Thursday evening.
In addition to the Goldsboro office and hospice center on the adjacent property, 3HC also has offices in Clinton, Greenville, Kinston, Smithfield and Wilson.
The Rev. Bill West, pastor of Hood's Grove Baptist Church, spoke to the crowd about the important role volunteers play in such an environment.
"When it comes to the work of 3HC, we don't need bystanders," he said. "We need those who will see the need and those who will step up to serve wherever they're needed, and that's exactly what you're doing.
"Volunteers do not necessarily have the time. They just have the heart and then they make the time."
West praised the mission of 3HC and its ministry to patients in the last stages of life. Those who volunteer on an ongoing basis also have to have unique qualities they bring to the role.
"You bring skills. You bring advice. You bring experience. You bring friendship. You bring vision. You bring leadership. You bring inspiration and so much more," he said.
Twelve service awards were handed out to volunteers in Wayne County.
Goldsboro recipients included Pamela Dyson, Christine Marcoux and Linda Orr, each receiving three-year service awards, and Norma Carol McDonald, a five-year service award.
Kitty Askins volunteers recognized for three years of service include Bridgette Barfield, Barbara Bradshaw, Kirk Keller, Faye Montague, Betsey Pritchett, Annie Robinson and Eileen Sterling. Miriam Wessell received a 10-year service award.
Two Governor's Awards for Volunteer Service were presented, honoring recipients for having the "true spirit of volunteerism," said Wanda Smiley, volunteer coordinator for 3HC.
Kay Bradley from Goldsboro, volunteers at Kitty Askins, and Jan West, who serves in the Clinton office, are "Thursday call volunteers," making calls to patients and families each week, Ms. Smiley said.
Jean Whitfield, senior vice president of operations and development, also announced the 3HC "First Writer's Award."
"This is the first time we have given this award because it's never happened before and it might not happen again," she said. "This past Monday we had the privilege to attend the Association for Home and Hospice Care in Durham at their annual spring conference. All of us home health agencies make recommendations that (we) think should be employee of the year. There are nine categories."
In years past, she said, 3HC submitted nominations but to date had never had a winner.
So they decided to take a different approach, Ms. Whitfield said.
"This year when we got the call to do that I asked Wanda (Smiley), do you have a volunteer that can write?" she said. Ms. Smiley recommended Donna Gatnarek, a hospice volunteer who serves in Smithfield.
"She wrote (the nominations). We submitted five to the state. There were nine categories. We won three categories," Ms. Whitfield said, before presenting the Writer's Award to Ms. Gatnarek for her efforts.
The state awards the nominations garnered were for Ms. Smiley, named agency support personnel of the year; Terry Doyle, a hospice direct patient care volunteer in Smithfield, volunteer of the year; and Sandra Davis, a licensed therapist assistant in Kinston, named paraprofessional of the year.