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February is National Heart Month. So what better time for Big Bend Hospice to salute volunteers who are truly “The Heart of Hospice.”
This is not a cliché. Because without volunteers, there would be no Big Bend Hospice. It was a group of volunteers who sat around a table in the late 1970s and decided that those suffering from a terminal illness in the big bend area should have options. They wanted to bring a new, modern day hospice approach to the Big Bend. These volunteers advocated and raised funds to establish Big Bend Hospice in 1983.
Big Bend Hospice is proud to present five individuals with the 2017 “Heart of Hospice” award. Pictured with staff members and holding their plaques are, left to right: Betty Morales, Volunteer Coordinator; Tom & Cathy Bishop; Gloria McFadden; Katie Mandell; Volunteer Coordinator, Bonnie McHugh; Andrea Fryk; Volunteer Coordinator, Tom Lynch; and Adrienne Hill, Volunteer Coordinator.
It was a group of volunteers who served as nurses, social workers, and administrators without being paid during those first few years.
It was volunteers who started and still work with the Big Bend Hospice Foundation to ensure that no one is ever turned away for inability to pay.
It is volunteers who have provided numerous hours every year providing respite to caregivers, comfort to patients or companionship to both. It’s volunteers who serve in the Margaret Z. Dozier House as greeters, Tea Time Ladies, or Care Team members. Vigil Volunteers sit at the bedside of patients to ensure no one dies alone. Volunteers impact the administrative staff by assisting with filing, data entry, answering the telephone, and other miscellaneous tasks. As neighbors taking care of neighbors, direct-patient volunteers are vital in our rural counties. They have also helped celebrate patients’ birthdays or honor our patients who are Veterans.
So in honor of National Heart month, Big Bend Hospice is proud to present five individuals with the 2017 “Heart of Hospice” award. Tom and Cathy Bishop serve together as a couple. They work directly with patients, offer administrative assistance; and over the years, have helped in a variety of ways. Gloria McFadden is a direct patient volunteer in Madison County. She sits with patients to allow their caregiver to run errands or take some much needed me time. Bonnie McHugh joined us as a Valor Volunteer to help to honor her fellow veterans. She immediately expanded her involvement as a Greeter in the Dozier House and assisting with Special Events. Tom Lynch, a pre-med student, started out providing patient care in our Dozier House and at various Assisted Living Facilities in Leon County. He recently completed a special training to become a Vigil Volunteer.
Combined, all five of these volunteers have contributed 576 hours in 2016 alone.
Volunteers are truly “the Heart of Hospice.” If you would like to learn more about becoming a Big Bend Hospice volunteer please call the Volunteer Department at (850)-878-5310 or Sharon@bigbendhospice.org.