Lake Wales, FL (April 29, 2011) –Lake Wales Medical Center held a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon to honor the more than 100 volunteers who donate thousands of hours every year helping the hospital provide top quality care to its patients and visitors.

Dave Fehser was named Volunteer of the Year. Fehser, who has logged more than 2,500 hours since becoming a hospital volunteer in 2008, is the friendly face that greets visitors to the Hunt Building most days.

“Dave is one of those guys who never seems to have a bad day,” said Eric Grenier, who coordinates the volunteer program at the hospital. “He’s got a big cheery ‘hello’ and a smile for everyone who comes in the door. His outgoing friendliness, and his willingness to go the extra mile to help our customers, make him a huge asset to the hospital.”

The annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon was held on Monday, April 25, at the Lake Wales Country Club. Lake Wales Mayor Jack Van Sickle attended and presented a Proclamation from the city declaring April 25-29 Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Each of the hospital’s volunteers received a certificate of appreciation, and many also earned service award pins:

100 hours: Joyce Angrist, Gloria Archer, Marcia Chatfield, Ann Clement, Jane Crowley, Cookie DiRienzo, Edward Early, Martin Freeman, Charlene Garcia, Barbara Hitchcock, Gareth Hutton, Ogeeda Hutton, Lois Lapsley, Tesa Melendez, Donna Staton, Daisy Thomas, Frank Vengren, Gloria Wurth, and Dororthy Stalker.

500 hours: Claire Arens, Alvina Church, Alexander Comstock, Phillip Landou, Barbara Marksbury, Barbara Moyle, Sherry Oakes, Richard Rounds, Peggy Sabatino, Faye Shoemaker, Pat Spate, Marie Stibitz, and Clarence Brower.

1,000 hours: Marguerite Bacon, Tom Egan, Maryanne Siders, Edwin Friedlander, William Kunkel , Merrilyn Seib, Virginia Toering, and Stella Yeaw.

1,500 hours: Mary Martin, Lois Paul, Marjorie Knowlton, and Robert Cramer.

Additionally, the following service hour pins were awarded: Larry Chlebeck and David Fehser, 2500 hours; Jackie Jones, 3000 hours; Lorraine Cadwell and Warren Cook, 3500 hours; BJ Reeves, 4000 hours; Lorraine Dibble, 4500 hours; Ellen McElhinny, 7500 hours; and Martha Carter, 15,500 hours.

These Lake Wales Medical Center volunteers each earned their 100 hour service award pin. Kneeling, from left: Edward Early, Mary Luhr, and Frank Vengren. Standing, from left: Donna Staten, Jan Crowley, Gloria Archer, Barbara Hitchcock, Joyce Angrist, Lois Lapsley, Ann Clement, Cookie DiRienzo, Gareth Hutton, and Ogeeda Hutton.

500 hour service pin award recipients for Lake Wales Medical Center were, from left: Richard Rounds, Marie Stibitz, Peggy Sabatino, Barbara Moyle, Barbara Marksbury, Phillip Landou, Faye Shoemaker, Pat Spate, and Clarence Brower. Kneeling in front is Sherry Oakes.

Earning their 1,000 hour service pins for LWMC were, from left, Virginia Toering, Merrilyn Seib, Tom Egan, Marguerite Bacon, Maryanne Siders, Stella Yeaw, and Edwin Friedlander.

These volunteers have logged numerous hours at LWMC. From left: Warren Cook (3,500), Martha Carter (15,500), Lorraine Cadwell (3,500), Lorraine Dibble (4,500), Bob Cramer (1,500), Lois Paul (1,500), Larry Chlebeck (2,500), Mary Martin (1,500), Dave Fehser (2,500), Ellen McElhinny (7,500), Jackie Jones (3,000) and BJ Reeves (4,000).

Dave Fehser, right, is congratulated by Volunteer Coordinator Eric Grenier on winning LWMC’s 2011 Volunteer of the Year award.