Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service Volunteer Wins Award

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Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service Volunteer Wins Honorable Mention in Statewide Volunteer Award by MMO

Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service (VNS) volunteer Barbara Lopane won statewide recognition with an honorable mention in the Outstanding Senior Volunteer Awards program sponsored by Medical Mutual of Ohio. The award honors individuals age 65 or older who act in a selfless, caring manner and are committed to enhancing the quality of life for people and the community.

Ms. Lopane, a resident of Akron, has been a volunteer at the Hospice of VNS Care Center on Ridgewood Road in Fairlawn for more than three years. She volunteers twice a week as a receptionist, clerical volunteer, and assists in the Bereavement Department with the annual children’s bereavement camp, Camp Promise. She provides support to patients’ family members by serving as co-chair for a monthly support group for people who have recently experienced a loss. Ms. Lopane also continuously supports the Hospice Care Center’s Family Kitchen by providing food items and is a mentor to new volunteers.

 “Barb enhances the well-being of our Hospice program by always being there with a helping hand for the patients, their families and the employees. One day she made two trips to the Care Center just to check on a family member who was having a particularly hard day earlier when she visited. She sees to it that our mission is a reality. Barb is a wonderful example of what it means to give from the heart expecting nothing in return,” says Terri DeGeorge, Manager of Volunteer Services for Hospice of VNS, who nominated her for this award.

Besides her volunteer work at the Hospice Care Center, Ms. Lopane also volunteers for the Christ Child Society, a group that assists needy families with clothing for children, and at St. Hilary Church where she is involved in many activities and events.

For information on volunteering for Hospice of VNS, please call Terri DeGeorge, Manager of Volunteer Services, at 330-668-4650 or 800-335-1455, Ext. 4650.