Volunteers are the Heart of Hospice

(Jesse Perales, Rose Ann Yates, Denise Carder) – Fundraising Committee members; (Diane Shelton and Joyce Surprise) – Patient Care Administrative Volunteers.  Mayor Stagner – seated

A prime consistency at Lamar Area Hospice is the volunteer component, said Debbie Pelley, Executive Director, during a proclamation signing which highlights National Volunteer Week, April 15-21 in the City of Lamar. The proclamation was signed by Lamar Mayor Roger Stagner at Hospice offices at 108 West Olive Street on Monday, April 16.  She continued, “Our 38 volunteers offer over 100 hours of service to their community.  We are mandated by the state to have at least five % of our direct patient care come from our volunteers, and we exceed that.”  She added that they are the backbone of the organization.

Pelley said she began as a volunteer after her father was a recipient of hospice services, “Some of our volunteers have had family members aided by us and others simply want to volunteer in a purposeful manner and sign with us.”

Perales said Lamar Area Hospice is always recruiting and interested persons are welcome to call for information at 336-2100.