VOLUNTEERS: 1991 BELL VOLUNTEER AWARD WINNERS HONORED FOR HELPING OTHERS; TEEN SEES CHANGE THANKS TO WORK IN HOSPITAL CAFETERIA

Lance Cassoutt admits his volunteer hours over the past four years have sparked a significant difference in himself.

Since 1988, Cassoutt has volunteered over 1,860 hours at St. Francis Medical Center.

"It was my mom's idea," he said. "She thought it would be good for me to meet new people. At first I was nervous; I didn't want to meet new people."

In fact, Cassoutt, who has a speech impediment, dreaded meeting new people. But the nurturing atmosphere at the hospital helped him begin to overcome that shyness.

"All of a sudden I changed," said Cassoutt, who is now 17. "Now it's okay."

Cassoutt volunteers in the medical center cafeteria. His "boss," Rick Etherington, said he too has seen the change.

"When he came here and started working with us, he was very shy. He has gotten some of his self confidence back," said Etherington. "I can see a real difference in him."

Cassoutt's success story is the reason Etherington nominated him for the award.

Etherington said Lance does a good job in the cafeteria. "He also has a sense of humor and an easy smile," Etherington said.

Cassoutt often receives calls for help from the cafeteria. And, he said he's glad to come in and volunteer. "It makes me feel kind of good," he said.

Besides his volunteer work at the hospital, Cassoutt is active at his church. He also runs errands, shovels snow, mows lawns and picks up the mail and newspaper for his elderly neighbors all on a volunteer basis.

"I just like to help people," he said. "In a way I feel different when I can help someone else."

Although Cassoutt enjoys his volunteer work, he sees a practical aspect to his experience.

"If I want a job later on in the future," he said, "then I can use them for a reference."

Cassoutt said his career goal is to work with animals or the environment. "I care about nature and wildlife," he said. "I have been reading a lot of books about nature and the environment."

But he would also like to work for the medical center. "It makes me feel good to work here," he said.