Hunterdon Healthcare System Honors Their Volunteers During National Volunteer Week
Published May 2, 2008
Christine Hoinowski, RN, a registered nurse at Hunterdon Medical Center takes vitals of her patient, Elsa Mazzucco of Raritan Township as Lance Hemlow, a volunteer at Hunterdon Medical Center plays his guitar. Lance is part of the Therapeutic Music Program at Hunterdon Medical Center.
Hunterdon Healthcare System volunteers who share their time and talents to make a difference in our community were honored during National Volunteer Week, April 27-May 3rd. Hunterdon Healthcare System hosted a special Volunteer Recognition Awards luncheon on Monday, April 28th at the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse. Two Hundred-sixty five volunteers and staff attended the awards ceremony.
Hunterdon Healthcare System volunteers encourage all of us to get involved in helping to strengthen our community. “It’s easy to overlook the importance of volunteers because they rarely sing their own praises; yet they change so many lives,” said Lynne Danik, Director of Volunteers, Hunterdon Healthcare System. Danik added, “National Volunteer Week is a way of saying ‘Thank you!’ to the selfless men, women, and young people who embody the American spirit of caring for one another.”
Recent information released by Independent Sector, a nonprofit group devoted to philanthropy and citizen action, values volunteer services at $19.51 an hour. Last year, 458 volunteers at Hunterdon Healthcare System contributed 60,130.34 hours of service, which equals $1,173,143 dollars worth of volunteer time and support.
Volunteers provide support to over 70 departments and satellite locations within the Hunterdon Healthcare System. Volunteers help to:
Transport hundreds of patients from one department to another
• Answer countless questions at the information desk
• Staff the Lobby Gift Shop located in the hospital.
• Visit and comfort patients
• Greet and help direct patients and visitors throughout the hospital
• Assist in many offices and departments throughout the Hunterdon Healthcare System
“These are just a few of the many services our volunteers do to help the hospital be the best it can be. Without hesitation our volunteers walk through the doors of the hospital and are committed to helping people. We can’t thank them enough for all their support,” stated Danik.
National Volunteer Week began in 1974, when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order establishing an annual celebration of volunteering. Every president since has signed a proclamation promoting the week.
“We hope that National Volunteer Week will inspire others to become volunteers,” added Danik.
We have available volunteer positions needed in our Lobby shop in the evenings. We also have needs in our transport department, in the afternoons.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the Hunterdon Healthcare System call the Volunteer Services Department at (908) 788-6140.