MORGANTOWN — Friends of WVU Hospitals honored volunteers on Friday during a luncheon at the Ruby Memorial Hospital in conjunction with National Volunteer Week.
It was a special event, said Volunteer Services Director Kimberly Hartsell, because it was their first in three years. COVID precautions prevented them from holding recognition lunches in 2020 and 2021.
COVID precautions also took its toll on volunteer numbers, she said — falling from 519 in 2019 to 327 in 2020 and 139 in 2021. So they were happy to be able to celebrate once again — and without masks in the conference room, where all the tables were festooned with balloons and china teacups gracing each place setting.
Volunteers put in 29,695 hours in 2019; 6,163 in 2020; and 5,808 in 2021, she said. “There is no value, no price tag you can place on their time.”
But one national organization has calculated value of volunteers at $28.50 per hour, she said with a chuckle. At that rate, their value of their service during the three-year span was $1,189,575.74.
Michael Grace, WVU Hospitals president and chief administrative officer, offered some comments, saying after he was introduced, “I am the last person in this room that deserves applause. It’s all of you.”
And Stacie Redelman, Friends of WVUH Board president, said, “No act of kindness is too small to be recognized.”
Redelman and Ilo Romero Lauro — WVU Medicine vice president — talked to The Dominion Post about one particularly challenging and rewarding volunteer program: NODA, No One Dies Alone. These volunteers serve at the bedsides of patients in their final days and hours — talking to them, praying, playing music, reading, giving them comfort. From 2019-2021 they completed 76 vigils.
During COVID, Redelman said, it was particularly hard because they couldn’t be at bedsides. “That was the hardest part for us.” And they’re happy to be able to resume that work with their 39 NODA volunteers.
Sometimes family members can’t be at the bedside during those final hours, she said, and they appreciate NODA’s support. “I know it means something to them. … You know that you made a difference.”
NODA volunteers work in shifts and support each other through private group chats. “It’s a great community,” Lauro said.
All told, 38 volunteers were able to attend the luncheon. They received recognition awards honoring the hours they’ve put in — 100 hours, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 and 2,500.
And one, Sue Woodruff, was honored for putting in 8,000 hours. She started there in 1983 and Friday happened to be her birthday, so she was treated with a song.
Two volunteers were recognized as 2020 and 2021 Volunteers of the Year. For 2020, it was Maleah King, who came with her therapy dog, Gus. Gus has been immortalized in a picture book written by King, “Gus Works for Kisses.” He was one of four therapy dogs at the luncheon; King is one of 19 therapy dog volunteers at the hospital.
Patrick Burns is the 2021 Volunteer of the Year. He was also recognized for serving for 1,000 hours.
The title of the luncheon was “Spring Into Volunteerism.” Adrienne Davis, Friends board vice president, closed the day by saying it was aptly named, as COVID is waning and the volunteer program can spring back to full life. She invited all to encourage family and friends to join in and volunteer.
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