By Staff
Special to The Star
May 10, 2002
East Mississippi State Hospital recently feted its volunteers with a reception.
More than 145 individuals and groups received certificates at the April 25 event for their volunteer service. Among the recipients were St. Patrick Catholic Church ladies who have continuously volunteered at EMSH for the past 47 years.
EMSH Director Ramiro Martinez praised the volunteers for their service.
Meridian city council president George Thomas was guest speaker for the occasion and challenged the volunteers to continue their good work.
EMSH volunteers put in more than 7,000 hours of service in 2001. Many churches, homemakers clubs and other community service organizations shared their time by providing parties, social events, dinners, Sunday School classes, musical entertainment and much more.
Circle of Friends, a group of 10 local churches, hosted events off the hospital campus for patients to attend on a weekly basis.
Circle of Friends churches include St. John Missionary Baptist Church, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Jones Memorial Presbyterian Church, Greater Calvary Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Poplar Springs Methodist Church, Central United Methodist Church, Trinity Presbyterian Church, New Hope Baptist Church and St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Foster grandparents and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program are two community programs that provided individual volunteers to work one-on-one with EMSH patients and R.P. White Nursing Home Facility residents.
For information about volunteering at East Mississippi State Hospital, contact Lynn Garrett, volunteer services coordinator, at 481-1114.