GAINESVILLE – A family that has volunteered to support local health care for more than two decades is being recognized with an award that is normally given to just one person. George, Charline and Susan Shanks received the Marjorie Covington Smith Auxilian of the Year award for their service to Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) and The Medical Center Auxiliary during a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon held last week at Gainesville First Baptist Church Banquet Hall.
The family began volunteering in 1991 and has given more than 20,000 combined hours of service throughout NGHS. George began volunteering in Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s (NGMC) Emergency Department as a Patient Friend and has also served in Radiation Oncology, Educational Services and Occupational Therapy. His wife, Charline, began volunteering as a baby photographer and took photos for 15 years. She also served with First Steps, Creative Care and New Horizons Lanier Park. In 2005, George and Charline began volunteering together with the Reader to Patient Book Cart and eventually joined Mended Hearts.
The Shanks’ daughter, Susan, has given more than 10,500 hours since 1991. She has served in many areas throughout NGHS – including Educational Services, Public Relations, Respiratory Therapy, Essentially for Women and Human Resources – and has helped with many special projects throughout the hospital. For the past 10 years, she has volunteered at New Horizons Limestone and Lanier Park.
Another volunteer, Jan Evans, also received a prestigious honor. Barbara Bostwick, president of The Medical Center Auxiliary, presented Jan with the Nell Whelchel Wiegand Patient Friend award. Jan is a dedicated volunteer who has served NGMC in Surgical Services and at the South Patient Tower Information Desk. She currently volunteers weekly at the North Patient Tower Information Desk where she greets, welcomes, provides directions and transports patients in wheelchairs. Jan often helps with special projects and events, including the Auxiliary's annual holiday shopping event, Marketplace. She has volunteered at NGMC for 17 years and has given almost 4,000 hours of service.
Awards presented at the luncheon represent a total of 177,200 service hours, equivalent to a value of $4.3 million to NGHS. In total, 179 volunteers reached service milestones during the past year and received award pins. Lorena Collins was recognized for 24,400 hours of service, which is the greatest amount of service donated by a volunteer in the history of The Medical Center Auxiliary. She has served 52 years and continues to volunteer weekly with patient mail and at the South Patient Tower Information Desk.
For more information about volunteering with the Medical Center Auxiliary, call 770-219-1830 or visit www.nghs.com/volunteer.
