Therapy dogs steal show at Blue Ridge Hospice volunteers’ dinner

Two volunteer therapy dogs tripped their handler as she strode forward to accept a special achievement award in their behalf, and her own, at the annual banquet in Winchester where Blue Ridge Hospice salutes all of its many volunteers.

Recognized for her six years of service to the hospice was Mary Ellen Duffy, along with her dogs Willow and Keely who, apart from tangling their handler in their leashes, behaved with soft-eyed equanimity at the presentation ceremony.

Mary Ellen Duffy with care givers Willow and Keely. Courtesy hospice photo.

Duffy and the dogs were three of several hospice volunteers who received “Volunteer of the Year” awards recognizing outstanding service to Blue Ridge Hospice during 2017. During the six years Duffy has worked for hospice, her dogs have visited 69 patients in their homes, and made 500 visits to end-of-life patients in hospital care.

Administrative Volunteer of the Year: Alohna Hersey

In addition, scores of volunteers, credited with $857,456 cost savings to the Winchester-based hospice which serves the northern Shenandoah Valley, were called out for the 34,450 hours they’d spent offering compassionate care to patients and families.

Outstanding among them was business office worker Alohna Hersey, a relative newcomer to the hospice volunteer team (2016), who “dove right in” according to her office colleagues who applauded when she received the “Administration Volunteer of the Year” award just two years after joining the corps of volunteers at the hospice.

Patient Family Support Volunteer of the Year: Barney Stine pictured with Kelly Miller, Manager of Volunteer Services Program, and Constance Morrison CEO Blue Ridge Hospice

Kelly Miller, manager of volunteer service, also presented the Founders’ Award to Beverley Bowman Shoemaker who she said “most significantly impacted the overall mission of Blue Ridge Hospice” with her financial support.

Thrift Shop Volunteer of the Year: Cindy Pullen Pictured with Thrift Shop Manager Joy Patterson

Barney Stine, the 2017 “Volunteer of the Year” in patient and family support – he was cited specifically for his “coolness in moments of crisis” – and Cindy Pullen, the Hospice Thrift Shops “Volunteer of the Year” also were recognized.

Remarking on the overall dollar savings by volunteers, Miller said: “Because of you, the money saved goes directly toward the care of our patients.”

Founders Award: Beverely Shoemaker pictured receiving award from Helen Zebarth Founder