Volunteers for Lakeview Regional Medical Center contributed over $350,000 in their time and talents to the hospital in the past year, according to outgoing volunteer auxiliary president Jerry Lambert at the hospital’s volunteer appreciation luncheon.

Lambert also said the volunteers have worked over 20,000 hours this past year in all areas of the hospital. They run the gift shop, make coffee for waiting family members, escort patients and their families to various areas of the hospital, answer phones, perform clerical work, and basically help and assist patients, their families and the staff in numerous ways. The volunteers also raise money through bake sales, raffles, the gift shop and other venues, said Lambert.

Lakeview CEO Jason Cobb added his thanks for everything that Lakeview’s volunteers do. In the near future, he will be holding town meetings for the volunteers and staff to give them updates of the hospital’s progress.

Perfect attendance award winners are from left, Richard Deethardt, Dianne King, Esther Hellmers, Doris Gabrielle, Lorraine Lewis, Becky Gilly, Grace Burchardt, Marie Mauer, Mary Baumann, Jerry Lambert, Joyce Richardson, Joyce Seal and Ray Kinler.

Cobb said that in physician satisfaction, Lakeview has garnered the highest improvement rate in the HCA. They have also received the gold level in quality scores in all four areas that are measured. Patient satisfaction is also improving.

Cobb said that in the next 18 months, the hospital plans to grow office space to meet the growing demand from physicians to move into the LRMC complex.

Through money the volunteers raise in the gift shop, and through other activities, the hospital contributes to charities in the community as a way of giving back to the community. This year, recipients organizations of the $38,000 raised through volunteer efforts included: New Heights Therapy Center, Elder Protective Services, Children’s Advocacy Center, Safe Harbor, Pennies for bread at St. Joseph’s Abbey, Louisiana Bone Marrow Donor Registry, Hospice of St. Tammany and Council on Aging St. Tammany (COAST).

Officers for the volunteer auxiliary for 2008 were installed at the luncheon. They are: Rita Dollar, president; Paul Cimino, vice president; Joan Fontaine, secretary; and Richard Deethardt, treasurer, with Jerry Lambert as past president.

Volunteeer Awards for hours worked this year were presented to the following:

Dianna King, 5800 hours; Marie Trahan, 5000; Joyce Fontaine, 4600; Carolyn Andrews and Henry Markel, 4300; Elwood Trahan, 4100; Elaine Fonte, 3900; Mary Baumann, 3700; Esther Hellmers and Leandra Howze, 3500.

Becky Gilly and Lattra Malone, 2900 hours; Lorraine Lewis, 2600; Jackie Hemelt, 2400; Rene Gandolfo, 2300; Raymond Kinler and Joyce Seal, 2200; Constance Cresswell, Irene Walz, Bobbie Coffman and Joyce Richardson, 2100; Chris Verdin, 2000 hours.

Mary Lou Lake, 1800 hours; Betty Pace and Theresa Sheeren, 1600; Al Adoue, Jeanne Fehn and Jerry Lambert, 1300; Milton Lake and Tony Vizard, 1250; Wanda Yost, 1200; Rita Dollar, Carol Erhardt, Ellie Geunther, Susie Schroder and Maggie Svendsen, 1000.

Robbie Newman, 940 hours; Reina Hester, Adrianne Moore and Beverly Smith, 900; Ann jardot, David Moore and Frank Tusa, 800 hours; Gladys Baker, Judy Coulon, Joan Dupree and Joan Pellissier, 700; Ruth Heymann, 650; Paul Cimino, Alice iversen and Grace Burchardt, 600; Richard Deethardt and Jean Schulz, 550; Pat Garcia, Gene Garcia, Dorothy LaBorde, Gay Pilie and Jerry Schulz, 500; Jose Guerrero, Charles McFerren and Lorene Scott, 450; Dorothy Hamann, Mary Mangiaracina and Giselle Trapani, 350; Evelyn Brown, Margie Buisson, Shirley Phillips and Arlene Toler, 300; Doris Gabriel and Marie Mauer, 250; Margaret Faessler and Shirley Zibilich, 200; Bryan Gephardt and Jackie Grasso, 150; and Sandra Dours, 100 hours.

In addition, certificates of appreciation were given to new volunteers who had not been with the hospital long enough to secure pins: Evelyn and Jack Belou, Barbara Parr, Betty Hawkins, Gloria Pitello, Margaret Pegg, Rachel Silvestri, Beverly Salvetti, Bette Thibodeaux.

Longevity pins were awarded to the following who have been volunteering for 10 years: Rene Gandalfo, Leandra Howze, Dianna King, Elwood Trahan, Elaine Fonte and Beverly Smith. Both Fonte and Smith have been with the hospital longer than 10 years, but the highest acknowledgment pin they present is 10 years.

Those who have been with the hospital for 5 years are Joan Dupree, Lorraine Lewis, Joyce Richardson, Joyce Seal, Maggie Svendsen, Becky Gilly and Jackie Hemelt.