Cypress Basin Hospice Recognizes Volunteers

Cypress Basin Hospice, based in Mt. Pleasant, recently hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet and Awards Ceremony. Over sixty volunteers and their spouses came out for the event. During the evening, six individuals were recognized as volunteers of the year.

Those volunteers who received awards were as follows:

Mt. Pleasant Thrift Store Volunteer of the Year
With only three full time and two part time staff, the thrift stores rely heavily on volunteers. Ms. Dorothy Kyle, the Mt. Pleasant Thrift Store Volunteer of the Year has been volunteering for many years. She faithfully gives of her time twice a week, even when she’s not feeling well. She welcomes shoppers with a smile and is incredibly helpful to all.

Pittsburg Thrift Store Volunteer of the Year
The Pittsburg Thrift Store Volunteers of the Year are Billie Bradford and Ellen Weed. These two special ladies started volunteering at the same time about a year ago. Each Wednesday, they can be counted on to come in and help hang clothes to go out onto the floor.

Administrative Volunteer of the Year
The Administrative Volunteer of the Year is Jansen Johnson. Jansen has been volunteering since November of 2005. Twice a week she answers the phones and assists with any other administrative projects Hospice might have going on.

Patient Care Volunteer of the Year
Fred Harkrider was awarded Patient Care Volunteer of the Year. In 2009, Fred put 4,352 miles on his car, going on patient visits and spent nearly 233 hours visiting with patients. Fred loves visiting with patients and their families. When he can’t make a visit, he calls. Many of the patients he sees have become true friends.

Fundraising Volunteer of the Year
For more than 10 years, Karen Neeley has chaired Cypress Basin Hospice’s top fundraising event of the year, the Hearts for Hospice Ball. Under her outstanding leadership over the past 10 years, the Ball has raised an over $575,000. This has allowed Cypress Basin Hospice to continue to provide outstanding care for patients and their families.

Each Cypress Basin Hospice volunteer is truly special! Cypress Basin Hospice would not be the organization that it is today without volunteers. The organization formed when a group of volunteers came together with the vision of starting a hospice in Mt. Pleasant. The strength of our volunteers continues today.

Cypress Basin Hospice, a community owned, non-profit organization, has been serving Northeast Texas since 1986. This health care agency is dedicated to providing supportive services to patients and their families who are undergoing the effects of life-limiting illness. Cypress Basin Hospice services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, visit www.cbhospice.org.