Southeast Hospice Honors Volunteers

Southeast Hospice honored its volunteers at its 17th annual Volunteer Banquet on Thursday, Nov. 15, in the Harrison Room at Southeast Hospital.

Linnie Harris of Cape Girardeau received the Cherub Award; Carolyn Pickens of Jackson and Cristina Bles of Cape Girardeau received Gabriel awards; Ann Amelunke and Mark Kiblinger, both of Cape Girardeau, received Guardian Angel awards.

Harris, who joined the Hospice volunteer team in 2005, was recognized for her efforts in fundraising, office support and activities such as crafts.

Pickens, who has been a volunteer since 1998, has helped with fundraising and sometimes volunteers with two patients at a time. She is an on-call volunteer, trained as a spiritual volunteer and takes calls as an 11th Hour volunteer to sit with patients during their last 12 to 24 hours of life.

Bles, who completed her Hospice volunteer training in 2005 and put in more than 940 hours of service over the past year, is dedicated to her patients and committed to in-service training. She also serves as an 11th Hour volunteer, and helps with fundraising and special projects for Hospice.

Amelunke , who began volunteering with Hospice in 2003, has worked with the bereavement program. She helps with fundraising, bakes treats for the Hospice staff, and spends quality time with her patients.

Kiblinger, who started volunteering in 2007, listens to patients. He sits at their bedside and prays while they are sleeping. He regularly serves as a Hospice volunteer to two patients at a time.

Hospice volunteers contributed nearly 10,500 hours of service to Hospice in 2012, amounting to nearly $229,000 worth of labor. Volunteers drove a total of 14,715 miles to perform their duties, amounting to more than $8,100 worth of donated mileage expenses.

Pickens and Phyllis Lee each volunteered more than 1,100 hours over the past 12 months, Betty Hardy volunteered more than 936 hours, Volunteers with more than 800 hours include Geneva Ruesler and Jean Mueller. Volunteers who have contributed 150 or more hours include Amelunke, Harris, Kiblinger, Frank Crites, Marla Cypert, Dorothy Dees, Kathy Forshee, Julie Francis, Joy Galentine, Dixie Hopkins, Helen Hunt, Amber Pierce and Glenda Quinn.

Volunteers, who were recognized for 15 years of service to Southeast Hospice, included Pickens and Quinn, as well as Sue Clippard, Iris Likens and Sue Martin.