L’Observateur / May 9, 1999

LAPLACE – River Parishes Hospital recently honored Clara Englade, Volunteer of the Year, as well as 28 other volunteers for donating over 9,000 hours of service at the hospital during the past year.

The 17th annual Volunteer Banquet was held at Bull’s Corner Restaurant in LaPlace during National Volunteer Week. During the luncheon, 16 volunteersreceived service pins for achieving cumulative hours ranging from 100 to 9,000 hours of service.

Hospital CEO and managing director B. Ann Kuss thanked all of the volunteers fortheir commitment and dedication to the medical staff, employees, patients and guests.

“The volunteers at any hospital play an important role in the successful operation of that hospital,” Kuss said. “You are usually the first and last persona patient will see during his or her stay at the hospital, so your smiling face and kind words will leave each patient with a lasting impression of the compassionate care they received at River Parishes Hospital.

“The majority of you have been a part of the hospital since it opened in 1982 and the patients and visitors know your faces. Seeing a familiar face can oftenlessen a patient’s anxiety in what may be a worrisome time.”Kuss continued, “Health care is changing and the need for hospitals to keep up with those changes remains a great challenge. We will need to expand the rolesof our volunteers, as well as recruit new members. I challenge you to keep upthe great work you do and to continue to grow with the hospital as we enter into the new millennium.”The group was entertained by the comical antics of humorist speaker Miz Maudie. “Helping others is the best way we can help ourselves,” said Maudie.”You are a ministry – the work you do is invaluable.” The highlight of the afternoon was the announcement of Englade as the 1998 Volunteer of the Year. Englade, a charter member of the volunteer organizationand a member and past president of the River Parishes Hospital Auxiliary, has earned over 9,000 hours of service – more than any other volunteer. Shecurrently volunteers in the purchasing department and as a cashier in the gift shop.

“River Parishes Hospital is lucky to have such a dedicated volunteer as Ms.

Clara,” said Tammy Waltz, volunteer coordinator. “She is always willing andeager to pitch in whenever she is needed – always with a smile.”Nancy Howell, a buyer in the purchasing department, continued, “Ms. Clara issuch a kind and gentle person who never complains and always looks for ways to help out. She is a blessing to everyone around her.”Hosting the banquet each year to honor the volunteers is the hospital’s way of showing its appreciation for all of the hard work done by the volunteers. Ofcourse, their “true” thanks comes from the happy faces they see when they help someone in the hospital.

The hospital volunteers honored at the banquet are: Clara Englade, Ozeite Spears, Dorothy Millet, Rita Madere, Jean Haas, Geraldine Luminais, Ruby Clement, Walter Brown, Betty Coleman, Faye Loupe, Margie Guidry, Shelly Edeburn, Iris Waguespack, Barbara Mitchell and Virvin Clark.Back to Top

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