More than 430 volunteers honored for contributions
Area Auxilians contributed a record 46,648 hours of service to the hospital in the past year
Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers honored over 437 Auxilians for their service at the annual awards and appreciation luncheon held last month at Jennifer’s Garden. During the past year, Auxilians have contributed a record 46,648 hours of service to Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers.
“Generally, people who volunteer give of themselves to more than one organization,” says Jane Tesdall, Auxiliary manager at Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers. “We’re thankful that these busy community members have made Morris Hospital part of their volunteerism. The hours they give represent added service for our patients, visitors and staff in a variety of ways. Their contributions are invaluable, and we truly appreciate all they do for us.”
Last year, service Auxilians donated 20,182 hours of time to Morris Hospital’s Patient Transportation Service. This provided members of the community with rides to medical appointments 8,953 times last year. Service Auxilians also donated 11,240 hours to the hospital’s Lifeline service; 4,953 hours to the Auxiliary Gift Shop; 3,524 hours to the hospital’s main reception desk; 2,125 hours to the surgical waiting room; 1,480 hours to outpatient services; 967 hours to sewing; 758 hours to special events; 741 hours in clerical assistance; 367 hours to public relations; and a combined 301 additional hours to blood drives, medical records, pet therapy, human resources and the senior health insurance program.
Jim Walton, of Morris, was the top honoree for service hours. Walton has accumulated 35,000 hours of service since he began volunteering with Morris Hospital’s Patient Transportation Service when the program was started more than 10 years ago.
Additional Auxilians who were honored for achieving milestones in their service hours to Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers, listed by the town in which they reside, include: BRACEVILLE: Martin Corn, 4,500 hours; and Helen Huston, 1,500 hours. COAL CITY: Eugene Cassani, 100 hours; Debra Hazlett, 30,000 hours; Dennis Hazlett, 27,000 hours; and Russell Smetana, 1,500 hours. DWIGHT: Sandra Gantzert, 100 hours; and Nancy Jones, 100 hours. GARDNER: Irene Huston, 500 hours; and Carl Johnson, 100 hours.
MARSEILLES: Jerry Carter, 4,500 hours; Larry Mitchell, 5,000 hours; and Charles O’Connell, 100 hours. Mazon: Ralph Binion, 2,000 hours; Ruth Briscoe, 100 hours; Sharon Derby, 1,000 hours; Mary Lehnus, 100 hours; and Sue Warning, 500 hours. Minooka: James Robertson, 500 hours; and Carol Skowronski, 100 hours.
MORRIS: Barbara Almer, 1,000 hours; Marion Benson, 500 hours; Paul Canik, 100 hours; William Capper, 1,500 hours; Joseph Casetto, 500 hours; Jo Christensen, 100 hours; Beatrice Conley, 500 hours; Shirley Dix, 1,000 hours; Jeri Dolezal, 26,000 hours; Louise Drechsler, 100 hours; James Fannin, 500 hours; Patricia Feeney, 500 hours; William Ferguson, 2,000 hours; Melvin Fight, 2,500 hours; Gayle Green, 500 hours; Herbert Hain, 1,500 hours; Ruth Harp, 500 hours; Eunice Hayse, 2,000 hours; Darlene Howen, 2,000 hours; Alice Hunt, 2,000 hours; Beverly Jankowski, 100 hours; Gretchen Johnson, 2,500 hours; Luella Kellogg, 500 hours; Betty Kent, 500 hours; Mildred Kern, 3,000 hours; Verne Kolba, 4,000 hours; Carl Kramer, 1,500 hours; George Kresse, 3,500 hours; Barbara Kurecki, 100 hours; Keith Larson, 1,500 hours; Roger Long, 100 hours; Eileen Mann, 2,000 hours; William Martin, 2,500 hours; Beverly Mickelson, 4,000 hours; Larry Moore, 2,500 hours; James Morrow, 500 hours; Sue Morse, 100 hours; Penny Nelson, 100 hours; James O’Hara, 4,500 hours; Ernest Pierard, 1,000 hours; Gloria Piotrowski, 100 hours; Irene Provencal, 100 hours; James Provencal, 500 hours; Ronald Ragan, 4,500 hours; Richard Reyes, 1,500 hours; Judy Robowski, 500 hours; Judie Roth, 500 hours; Ahmet Rusid, 100 hours; Lois Sampson, 1,500 hours; John Sanders, 100 hours; Charles Sargent, 100 hours; Connie Schuler, 500 hours; Phyllis Sheahan, 500 hours; Sandra Strange, 100 hours; John Struck, 3,500 hours; David Tammen, 1,000 hours; Jim Walton, 35,000 hours; Norma-Jean White, 5,000 hours; James Yokubonis, 100 hours; Rosella Young, 500 hours.
VERONA: Patrick O’Sullivan, 8,000 hours. Wilmington: Bernie Shields, 2,500 hours; and MiloVeigelt, 2,500 hours. Yorkville: Dean Wolfer, 6,000 hours.
Serving patients in more than 18 communities, Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers includes the 86-bed Morris Hospital, as well as physician offices in Braidwood, Channahon, Dwight, Gardner, Marseilles, Minooka and Newark. Founded in 1906, Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers is the largest employer in Grundy County.
For more information on volunteer opportunities through the Morris Hospital Auxiliary, call 815-942-2932, ext. 7021.
