Thanks for “Giving Back”

On April 20, the annual volunteer breakfast was held in the Meyer Community Room at Otterbein St. Marys Retirement Community. It is a special event honoring those who give so selflessly for the betterment of the community. Guests were honored in three different categories: residents who volunteer within the Otterbein St. Marys community, residents who volunteer outside the Otterbein St. Marys community and individuals who volunteer at Otterbein St. Marys who are from the larger community.

In 2009, 96 Otterbein St. Marys residents donated 22,600 hours of volunteering. These hours encompass every aspect of the community from serving on committees, to coordinating transportation, grocery shopping and planting flowers, just to name a few. If each volunteer were compensated at $7 an hour, that would cost $168,910.

Volunteers were treated to a delicious breakfast and were given pins recognizing the number of hours donated. In other categories, 19 residents put in 1,526 hours volunteering outside the community at area churches, hospitals and schools. The community also is fortunate to have 42 outside volunteers who put in 1,530 hours. These volunteers are those who assist with various office duties, some spend time visiting with residents and others are volunteer board members.

2009 Resident Volunteer Of The Year Fran Benson is shown with Otterbein Homes President/CEO Jill C. Hreben and Otterbein St. Marys Executive Director Fred Wiswell. Fran is a 13-year resident who has donated more than 7,000 hours of her time.

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