In celebration of National Healthcare Volunteer Week, Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) honored its 130 adult volunteers, who donated more than 20,000 hours of service to the hospital and community this past year, at its annual appreciation luncheon on April 12 at the Connecticut National Golf Club.

DKH’s dedicated and resourceful volunteers make an invaluable contribution to healthcare in Northeast Connecticut. Volunteers were acknowledged for the countless hours of service they donate to the health system by DKH Volunteer Services Coordinator Janet Johnson, DKH President and CEO Anne Diamond, DKH VP of Human Resources Jeffrey Corrigan, DKH Chief Nursing Officer and VP, Patient Services John O’Keefe, and DKH Executive Director of DKH at Home Renee Smith.

“We are blessed to have an amazing group of volunteers who give selflessly to our patients and staff. Their dedication and longevity with our organization is admirable.” said DKH Volunteer Services Coordinator Janet Johnson. “I am humbled by their generosity every day!”

“Our volunteers are an integral part of our mission to improve the health and well-being of our community by providing the best medical care,” said DKH President and CEO Anne Diamond. “Their role in providing our patients and families with an exceptional experience, their contributions to our organizational vitality, and their generous gift of time and talent, help ensure the ability of DKH to be a caring partner to the community we serve.”

During the program, 45 volunteers received awards for achieving service milestones ranging from 100 to 18,000 hours of service. The 18,000 hour achievement was celebrated by Roger Franklin, a resident of Putnam, who volunteers regularly in the DKH volunteer department as well as with DKH at Home’s Hospice and Palliative Care department, and serves as chair of the DKH Friends of Hospice Committee.

Additional honorees included Susan Prest who celebrated 10 years of service; Jane Boisse, Roger Franklin, Kathleen Gerardi, Susan Morissette and Michelle Coutu who celebrated 15 years of service; Fay Brumfield, Robert Picard and Alan Pratt who celebrated 20 years of service; and Nancy Gale and Shirley Houghton who celebrated 25 years of service.

Volunteers at the event said they receive as much as they give by donating their time and energy to Day Kimball Healthcare.

Day Kimball Healthcare’s Adult Volunteer Program provides volunteers with the opportunity to serve in 22 different departments throughout the health system assisting in various ways, including escorting patients and visitors; running errands, delivering newspapers, cards, flowers, and medications; providing clerical assistance in offices, and more. Hospice volunteers offer respite to the patient’s caregiver; provide transportation for patients and family members; run errands or grocery shop; plant gardens; offer massage, reflexology or healing touch; take photos; make decorative pins to commemorate loved ones; and fundraise for special needs of the patients.

For more information about volunteer opportunities at Day Kimball Healthcare, visit daykimball.org/volunteer.

PHOTO CAPTION: DKH adult volunteers, who together donated more than 20,000 hours of service this past year, at DKH’s Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at Connecticut National Golf Club on April 12.