Jamestown Regional Medical Center can’t do the work it does without the work of the volunteers, said Mike Delfs, JRMC President & CEO.

JRMC presented awards to the 104 JRMC volunteers at the hospital’s Volunteer Recognition Banquet on April 11.

Since 1997, those volunteers have donated more than 147,000 hours. In 2017 alone, they donated more than 7,200 hours.

Volunteers at JRMC serve in different ways. This includes Telecare, making blankets, tummy pillows and infant hats, personally escorting patients and guests to appointments, assembling education packets and mailings. They dedicate time to fundraising events too. The JRMC Auxiliary raised $28,500 in 2018 for the JRMC Cancer Center. They also created infant swaddles for new babies in Family BirthPlace.

Legendary JRMC Volunteers

In addition to celebrating the volunteers’ hard work, JRMC also recognized the following:

  • Dorothy Chouinard, Legendary Volunteer
  • Kay Hust, Volunteer of the Year
  • Eunice Sahr, Auxilian of the Year

The Legendary volunteer is someone who made a major contribution of time, volunteering throughout his or her lifetime.

“We appreciate Dorothy because through the years she has donated 8,227 hours to Jamestown Regional Medical Center,” said JRMC Volunteer Coordinator Mary Engels. “She probably has closer to 10,000 hours, but they weren’t tracked in the beginning.” Chouinard was instrumental in starting Telecare, a daily calling program to check in on patients. Chouinard also helped establish the first hospital gift shop. Most recently, she volunteered to do hospice clerical work.

JRMC selected Hust because for the past four years she volunteered at the surgery desk at 6 a.m. each Monday. She started each shift with a smile and compassion for the patients and their families, Engels said.

“Kay has made such a difference in patient care donating over 700 hours of her time volunteering.”

The JRMC Auxiliary selects its Auxilian of the year. About 40 individuals belong to the JRMC Auxiliary, which serves as a fundraising element of the hospital.

“Eunice is an asset to healthcare in this region because she is willing to volunteer for every event and project.  Eunice is the president of the Auxiliary, leading Auxilians to make decisions to improve patient care with the purchase of equipment to donations for the Cancer Center.”

JRMC Volunteers Recognized

JRMC also recognized the following for their hours of service.

100 hours

  • Bonnie Allickson
  • Priscilla Kungel
  • Doreen Larson
  • Randy Neumiller
  • Marlene Stafford
  • Terry Ukestad

500 hours

  • Betty Geigle
  • Loretta Jung
  • LaVina Kleese
  • Hazel Scott
  • Larry Tag
  • JoAnn Vollrath

1,000 hours

  • Bluette Clancey
  • Gloria Harr
  • Marlene Humphrey

5,000 + hours

  • Dorothy Chouinard
  • Darlene Kropp
  • Bette Parsons
  • Joyce Roorda

“We are so grateful to our volunteers. They are THE difference in the lives of those we serve,” Delfs said.

To learn more about volunteering at Jamestown Regional Medical Center, call (701) 952-4809.