Pen Bay Healthcare volunteers were celebrated in April and May for donating their time and talents in support of PBH activities and programs.

On May 11, approximately 60 people gathered at Camden National Corporation’s Hanley Center in Rockport for the annual Penobscot Bay Medical Center volunteer recognition celebration. The group included in-hospital volunteers, Pen Bay Stitchers, on-call chaplains, pastoral visitors, members of the Board of Trustees and members of the PBMC and PBH Leadership Management Team.

In-hospital volunteers were recognized for contributing 9,425 hours this past year valued at $190,856; the Pen Bay Stitchers contributed 7,935 hours valued at $160,684. The on-call chaplains and pastoral visitors were thanked for their wonderful ministry of presence and for their availability and the hours they so generously donate. The total number of volunteer hours that the pastoral visitors donated to Penobscot Bay Medical Center, the Knox Center for Long Term Care and Quarry Hill in 2008 was 651.39. PBMC and Knox received 297.39 of those hours, and QH received 354. The on-call chaplains are available to PBMC 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. In 2008 they provided 52.75 volunteer hours to PBMC.

The Knox Center for Long Term Care recognized its many faithful volunteers with a pasta buffet dinner and decadent cheesecake dessert table at Knox on April 20. In 2008, Knox volunteers contributed a total of 2,727 hours.

Between 45 and 50 Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice volunteers attended a volunteer recognition tea held April 20 in the main dining room at Quarry Hill. Attendees were from all three counties served by KWL (Knox, Lincoln and Waldo). KWL volunteers visit clients in their homes as visiting volunteers, and they also make items for use by KWL clients. These items can be walker aprons, johnnies, lap covers, rice bags or neck pillows. Volunteers have recently begun to make Memory Bears for families of clients who have died. These bears are made from the clothing or other fabrics that belonged to the former client. KWL volunteers yearly donate between 1,600 and 1,300 hours of service.

Quarry Hill honored more than 75 area citizens, including dozens of its own residents, at volunteer recognition brunches held April 21 and 24 at the Camden retirement community’s Anderson Inn. Volunteers recorded approximately 1,370 hours of service at Quarry Hill in 2008.

Penobscot Bay Medical Center volunteers gathered for food and celebration at the Hanley Center in Rockport on May 11. From left: Ken Grover, Marilyn Muth, Morrie Dorenfeld (Escort/Reception volunteers), Howard Knowles (Health Information volunteer), Lee Webb and Mike Jones, Pen Bay Healthcare Board of Trustees.

At the Penobscot Bay Medical Center volunteer recognition celebration at the Hanley Center in Rockport on May 11, Ashley Groth, a Gift Shop volunteer, samples the delights of the chocolate fountain with Judi Trenholm, director of volunteer services.

Kno-Wal-Lin volunteers Betty Cowan of Camden and Tish Robotham of Morrill were among those celebrated at a tea held in the main dining room at Quarry Hill on April 20.

Knox Center volunteers (from left) Clara Mason, Jennie Dynesius and Carol Coiley chat with Knox Administrator Don Gross at a celebratory buffet dinner at Knox on April 20. These “tea ladies” come in faithfully week after week to offer friendship as well as tea, coffee and home-made treats to the Knox residents.