MEDIA RELEASE

As we approach the 38th annual National Volunteer Week, April 10-16, Kona Community Hospital invites you to recognize volunteers who tirelessly share their time and talent to making a difference in our community.

Your support can encourage them, as well as others, to volunteer and provide help where it is needed.

National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek ways to engage in their community. It’s about meeting our challenges not as individuals, but as members of a community, with all of us working together.

The Kona Community Hospital Auxiliary is the largest volunteer organization at the hospital with 65 volunteers. There are numerous volunteer opportunities such as helping in the infusion center to assisting in office work. They coordinate the Recycling Program, Gift Shop, Friday Bake Sale and more.

Monies go toward hospital activities and nursing scholarships.

A perfect example of their work is the Auxiliary’s annual Rummage Sale in early April and raised nearly $3,500 in two days. Employee purchases contributed to $1,000 of the proceeds.

The funds help local students become nurses, in hopes they will stay in our community and work. Hundreds of volunteer hours were needed to coordinate the event.

In 2010, Kathy Golizen provided 1,448 volunteer hours (the most at KCH) by knitting newborn baby hats for the Obstetrics department.

The total number of volunteer hours provided by the Auxiliary last year was 8,117, which equates to approximately $165,000 of free services.

“These unselfish and generous acts happen quite often but people may not know about them,” said Emily Mendez-Bryant, Community Relations Director at Kona Community Hospital. “We are extremely fortunate that we have strong volunteer support from our community. The amount of volunteer work that is provided at the hospital undoubtedly adds to our success.”

To be a volunteer, contact the Auxiliary office at 322-4577. There are also other volunteer opportunities at the hospital such as chaplain services and the junior volunteer program (14 years old and above).

For more information, contact 322-6960 or visit www.kch.hhsc.org