By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
CKMC recognizes its volunteers
new slt inside CKMC volunteers
From left: Ruth Brown, Lucy Jay and Delores Vsetecka, Central Kansas Medical Center volunteers, fold letters for mailing. CKMC volunteers will be honored at a recognition dinner. - photo by COURTESY PHOTO

The Central Kansas Medical Center volunteers who donate their time and talent to a variety of tasks will be recognized for their efforts during an upcoming special event.

The Volunteer Recognition Dinner is scheduled at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Dominican Sisters Convent, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend.

There are currently about 100 volunteers, including those who serve in the hospital itself, and at Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice, Heartland Cancer Center and Gifts from the Heart gift shop.

In addition, several Great Bend High School special-needs teens collaborate with their job coaches for volunteer service in recycling, office work and delivering items to patients.

"Our dedicated volunteers perform quite a number of duties," said Julie Shields, manager of Volunteer Services. "They escort patients and families to the proper departments and tend to the gift shop.

"At the cancer center, they ensure patients are comfortable when they receive their treatments and deliver specimens to our lab," Shields said. "And the hospice volunteers offer comfort and services to patients and their families during a very challenging time."

In addition to the western-themed recognition dinner, Walt Pennington will entertain with songs and audience interaction.

Wheatland Café in Hudson will cater the dinner.

The event is held in conjunction with National Volunteer Week, April 17 to 23.

"This is a time when we can really show our appreciation for the thousands of hours our volunteers donate each year," Shields said, noting last year’s total was 12,000. "Their contributions to CKMC and its many departments are invaluable."

Shields added that volunteers will continue to play an instrumental role after CKMC becomes St. Rose Ambulatory and Surgery Center on May 1.

"Most of the same services we provide today will be provided after the name change," Shields said. "We will still need help in the ambulatory and surgery center, home health and hospice, and the cancer center. Our trusted volunteers will be essential during the transition and beyond."

The only requirements to be a volunteer, Shields commented, are a "willing heart and a little bit of time."

For information about becoming a volunteer, call (620) 786-6194.