Press Release

Burgess Honors Volunteers

 Eighty-seven Burgess Health Center volunteers were recently honored at an annual recognition dinner with a Mexican fiesta theme for 10,290 hours of service in 2008.

Gifts and certificates were awarded and a valet parking service was offered by hospital CEO Fran Tramp as a special treat. 

The volunteers’ hours are equal to five full-time positions, according to Jeanne Pekarek who coordinates volunteers. The hours donated were 1,275 hours higher than those in 2007. Since the program began in 1986, 93,932 total hours have been recorded.

Volunteers hail from 12 communities: Blencoe, Castana, Decatur, Hornick, Moorhead, Onawa, Otto, Rodney, Sloan, Turin, Ute and Whiting.

Burgess saluted the volunteers for their work in 13 areas at the hospital, including mail and juice delivery to patients, the hospital gift shop, the Act II Consignment Shop, Ventures craft show, surgery waiting area hostess service and blood donation and colon cancer screening promotion.

They also serve as greeters and drivers and visit hospice clients. Creative volunteers also knit baby caps and booties and provide baby layettes and New Year’s baby gifts.                

For information on volunteering call Jean Pekarek, director of patient experiences at 423-9201.