Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett’s 95 volunteers provided nearly 17,000 service hours to the hospital in 2014. Hospital employees recently honored the volunteers as part of National Volunteer Week. Among those recognized was Carolyn Borden, who was named the Volunteer of the Year.
“Carolyn truly has a servant’s heart,” said Jane Garrett, manager of volunteer services. “Her daily life is committed to service to others. When Carolyn is not volunteering here at the hospital, she is volunteering at her church or helping a needy friend. She offers our patients compassion and concern while offering our auxiliary solid business experience and integrity.”
Borden became familiar with Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett in 2008. That was when her mom spent 17 days in the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU).
“I knew that someday I would like to come back to the hospital to volunteer,” Borden said.
She eventually returned to the hospital as a volunteer in 2012. Her main responsibility was to assist at the ICU information desk, which proved to be a difficult transition.
“When I started, I had a very tough time walking into the ICU because of the memories of the time I spent there with my mom,” Borden said. “But I also knew it was the right place for me because I had personal experience with what the patients and their families were going through. I was able to relate, and that has helped me be able to comfort families.”
In addition to volunteering at the ICU desk, she has also assisted with many of Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett’s special events. When the hospital’s volunteers began exploring the option of forming their own Volunteer Auxiliary, Carolyn used her accounting background to assist in the planning process. She was later elected president of the Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett Volunteer Auxiliary.
“It makes me proud to be a part of our auxiliary,” said Carolyn. “We have so many great volunteers that are dedicated to the hospital. In addition to volunteering our time, the Volunteer Auxiliary is able to raise money to provide items that will help meet the needs of many of our patients and families and help to make their stay at the hospital more comfortable.”
