Volunteers gave 97,652 hours to three hospitals in 2011
MAHWAH, N.J. Catalina Rosa of Warwick volunteered 1,124 hours last year at St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick.
Beth Lahey of Port Jervis volunteered more than 1,000 hours last year at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis.
Ed Harris and Mary Desiderio, both Suffern residents, volunteered 852 and 848 hours, respectively, last year at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Suffern.
The three hospitals of Bon Secours Charity Health System gathered 185 volunteers April 20 for a National Volunteer Week brunch at the Sheraton Crossroads in Mahwah, N.J. More than 570 volunteers served the three hospitals last year – for a total of nearly 98,000 hours.
Its wonderful that they are doing this for us, said Patrick Colman of Warwick, a longtime volunteer at St. Anthony Community Hospital.
The brunch marked the first time volunteers from all Bon Secours Charity Health System facilities were honored at a single event.
Penny Mann, the Health Systems director of volunteers, and the Health Systems volunteer coordinators Andrea Studnitzer and Amy Moore welcomed the volunteers.
You are cherished members of our hospital family, said Mann. You are essential to our success.
Mann reported that in the past year, volunteers donated 97,652 hours of service to Bon Secours Charity Health System, resulting in an immeasurable savings in resources.
Philip Patterson, CEO of Bon Secours Charity Health System, called for a round of applause for those volunteers unable to attend the recognition event because they were working at each facility that day. He mentioned how much he enjoys being greeted by individual volunteers when he visits each facility. Thank you for all your smiles and all your help, Patterson said.
Gerry Durney, chief operating officer of Bon Secours Charity Health System and executive vice president of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, pointed out that senior volunteers, having had careers and raising families, bring a variety of valuable experiences and talents with their service. We really appreciate all that you do, said Durney.
Deborah Marshall, vice president of public relations, marketing and strategic planning for Bon Secours Charity Health System, praised the volunteers for helping the Health System control expenses, which in turn enabled the hospitals to purchase the latest in health care technology.
Volunteers Rosa, Lahey, Harris and Desiderio received special awards and gifts for having served the most hours in their local hospitals last year.