Regional Hospice Honors 84 Volunteers as Recipients of the U.S. President's Volunteer Service Awards

Volunteers Celebrated for their Commitment to Helping People at the End of Life

 In the midst of a stormy September week, the clouds cleared and the sun came out over the Memorial Gardens of the Center for Comfort Care and Healing just in time to celebrate 84 outstanding Regional Hospice and Palliative Care (RHPC) volunteers. These individuals earned the 2017 U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Awards (PVSA) for volunteering over 100 hours each over the past calendar year. This national award program recognizes and celebrates outstanding American citizens who positively impact their communities, while serving as role models.

Now in its 35th year of providing care, comfort and compassion to community members at their end of life, RHPC recognizes their robust volunteer program as a touchstone of the hospice services provided.

“Whatever your volunteer role is, you can be assured that you are quietly changing lives one act of kindness at a time,” said Cynthia Emiry Roy, RHPC President and CEO, to the guests of honor on Friday night. “You are the essence of community and the best of who we are as humans.”

Each recipient was presented with a letter signed by President Trump, a heartfelt letter of gratitude from Roy, and a certificate commemorating the number of hours of service they provided. The eleven volunteers who provided 250+ hours of service in the calendar year also received a medallion, and the six who provided an astounding 500+ hours of service received an Olympic-sized gold medal.

Director of Volunteer Services, Mary Beth Hickey, praised the group for their contributions to the agency, quoting Blessed Pino Puglisi: “If everyone does something, then we can do a lot.” She celebrated the exceptional volunteers for their kindness in “stepping up” to help others in need and not leading a life of apathy. Throughout the ceremony, applause erupted as each name was read and awards were presented to the honorees. They enjoyed a gourmet dinner prepared by the RHPC Chefs, followed by the agency’s signature cookies.

PVSA recipients provided service to the agency as Family Support Volunteers, Lobby Greeters, Kitchen Volunteers, Flower Arrangers, Pet Partners, Reiki Practitioners, Administrative Volunteers, Fundraising Volunteers, Bereavement Volunteers and Healing Hearts Group Facilitators.

About Regional Hospice and Palliative Care
Regional Hospice has served Fairfield, New Haven, Hartford & Litchfield counties with nonprofit home hospice care for over 35 years. In 2015, we opened our state-of-the-art Center for Comfort Care & Healing. This family-centered hospice residence is CT’s first and only private-suite facility. Its mission is to provide exceptional end-of-life care, comfort and compassion to infants, children, adults and their families with a dedicated staff of professionals. Learn more at: MakingTheBestofEveryday.org

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Submitted by Danbury, CT

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