CarolinaEast Health System Volunteers Awarded Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service

During National Volunteer Month in 2024, CarolinaEast Health System Volunteers were awarded the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service. The Governor’s Volunteer Service Award honors the true spirit of volunteerism by recognizing individuals and groups that make a significant contribution to their community through volunteer service.

An individual or group from the public, nonprofit, and private sector may be nominated for this recognition award by a community member to their county-designated coordinator. There are categories for the type of nominee (individual, group, national service, and director of volunteers). The Commission reviews county nominations and awards are given out locally by the designated county award coordinator.

“The Governor’s Award is the highest award given in North Carolina for Volunteer Service and our volunteers are truly deserving of this honor,” said Shaellen Thompson, Volunteer Services Manager at CarolinaEast. “Our volunteers served a total of 57,755 hours in 2023 helping everyone who walks through our doors and I believe they are the stars of CarolinaEast.”

In April 2024, CarolinaEast President and CEO Michael Smith presented the Governor’s Award at the Annual Volunteer Luncheon held at The Flame in New Bern. Additionally, the Volunteers of the Year were announced and recognized. The recipients are Catherine Parnell, Hospital Greeter, Special Projects, and Concierge Desk; Carol and Marty Cavins; Accounting, Gift Shop, and Fairfield Harbour Auxiliary; and Richard Leonard, Patient Registration and Hospital Transporter.

Volunteers have been an instrumental part of CarolinaEast Health System’s history and have been assisting patients, staff, and visitors since 1963. There are currently 304 active volunteers at CarolinaEast. The duties of the volunteers include transporting patients and flower delivery, assisting staff members in clerical tasks, and directing

hospital visitors. More than 100 of the CarolinaEast Volunteers are sewers and crafters who knit and craft baby blankets and hats, chemo hats, pillows, port protectors, and shawls for patients. CarolinaEast Volunteers also includes the “Thera-Paws” Therapy Dog visitation program. Thera-Paws was introduced at CarolinaEast in 2014 and there are currently 17 dogs, each accompanied by a handler, in the program.

For more information about the CarolinaEast Volunteers or to learn how to become a volunteer, visit https://www.carolinaeasthealth.com/careers/volunteer-opportunities/.