Baystate Franklin Medical Center Honors More Than 400 Volunteers

GREENFIELD — Baystate Franklin Medical Center honored more than 400 volunteers at a breakfast celebration on April 15, in recognition of National Volunteer Week, April 10-16.

Pam Barber, volunteer manager at BFMC, noted that 220 Baystate Franklin Auxiliary members and 175 volunteers spend more than 50,000 hours per year serving Baystate Franklin Medical Center.

Praising the volunteers, Barber said, “when I became the volunteer manager 14 years ago I was truly amazed at the number of volunteers at BFMC who gave of their time, talent, and commitment. They make an impact every day in 40 different areas or departments.

“We are one of the very few hospitals that have an all-volunteer mailroom, information desk in the front lobby, gift shop, and chaplaincy program,” she continued. “Our volunteers interview patients, make discharge phone calls, serve food in the café, and meet clerical needs in more than10 departments. They also help with special projects such as craft fairs, United Way campaigns, Bring Your Child to Work Day, fund-raisers, bake sales, Chocolate Fantasy, and other functions.”

During the breakfast, 52 volunteers were specifically recognized for serving more than 1,000 cumulative hours at BFMC. Eleanor Fisher was honored for volunteering 15,700 hours; Jerry Ethier served 6,900 hours; and Avis Jenkins has volunteered 5,800 hours. Other volunteers honored were:

• 4000-4,999 hours: Andy Anderson, Margaret Mooney, and Jackie Trenholm;
• 3,000 – 3,999 hours: Elaine Chichester, Leona Anderson, Alice Kells, Rita Larange, Evelyn Mason, Dot Aubry, Anne Gates, Phyllis Margozzi, and Jeanne O’Connor.
• 2,000 – 2,999 hours: Marge James, David Chichester, Cindy Bourassa, Dottie Herzig, Dorothy Richardson, Georgia Wiles, Claire Cobb, Alice Fowler, Robert Keir, Ruth Austin, and Mike Cenzano.
• 1,000 – 1,999 hours: Robert James, Rosalie Pratt, Jack Ramey, Jane Lafleur, Dot Underwood, Gill; Sally Ahlskog, Rose-Marie Bassett, Julia Brocklesby, Alice Fisk, Dotty Gagnon, Sally Peltier, Joe Poirier, Jane Tilton, Marge Underwood, Marvin Wizwer, John Swartz, Ann Allen, Sandra Keir, Edna Noyes, Joan Vander Vliet, Bruce Bassett, Gloria Burke, Louis Pogoda, Carol Skole, Paul Hadsel, Jr., and Paul Hadsel, Sr.

Also being honored during the volunteer recognition breakfast are volunteer team leaders: Cherry Goodwin and Alice Kells, Surgery; Bob Keir, and Jackie Trenholm, Mail Room; Dave Chichester and Jack Ramey, Emergency Department; Gloria Burkeand Alice Fowler, Information Desk; Ann Allen, Montague, Radiology and Patient Registration; Elaine Chichester, and Sandy Keir, Student Ambassadors; Robert Rigby, Quality; and Avis Jenkins, volunteer manager’s office.

Individuals interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities at Baystate Franklin Medical Center should contact Pam Barber, volunteer manager, at (413) 773-2318 or pam.barber@baystatehealth.org.