By Staff
Special to The Star/The Meridian Star
May 1, 2001
Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center's Volunteer Auxiliary held an annual spring luncheon recently in honor of National Volunteer Appreciation Week.
Rachel Keller, patient representative and director of volunteers, said JARMC volunteers donated more than 7,000 hours in 2000.
Volunteer Pansy Light will have a 13-year volunteer anniversary in September, with 12,000 hours of service. James Hayes has served 5,000 hours and Thelma Buie has served 3,500 hours, each with 19 years of service.
Other volunteers receiving awards include: Erlene Welch, 1,500 hours; Virginia McRae, 1,285 hours; Ima Pacc, 1,000 hours; Rosa Wells, 700 hours; Bennett Miller, 900 hours; Dot Hogan, Hazel Little and Mary Heftner, 500 hours; and Ramona Sneed, 400 hours.
New volunteers include Polly Braham, Helen Blanks, Norean Thomas, Betty Sharman, Roland Oneil and John Moultrie.
The volunteer Auxiliary was organized in 1982 with the goal of "giving help where help is needed."
Jeff Anderson Volunteer Auxiliary activities include raising $3,500 to fund four scholarships to Meridian Community College, staffing the front information desk, assisting with hospital activities, delivering mail and flowers and providing services for families in the waiting rooms for ICU, CCU, surgery and labor/delivery.
The Auxiliary also helps with community projects such as The Lions Club Eyeglass Project, The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Survivors Walk, providing donations of time, money and food to LOVEs Kitchen and working with organizations like the American Heart Association and the Diabetics Foundation of Mississippi.
The auxiliary has 35 members. Charter members active include Thelma Buie, Edith Gaston, Dorothy Gleason and Emma Griffin.