When close friends encouraged Kathleen Trew to join them in their volunteer work at Memorial North Shore Health Center, she thought she’d give it a try.
Eleven years later, Trew is still there.
The volunteer has put in 16,277 hours — all at no charge — during her years with the health center.
But the 77-year-old’s volunteer work doesn’t stop there. She also volunteers evenings and weekends at her church. She drives sick neighbors to the doctor and serves as a neighborhood watch captain.
Trew’s hours for all these volunteer jobs are logged through her membership in Alexian Brothers Senior Neighbors’ Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.
The 374 RSVP members, who volunteer in 38 nonprofits, were thanked for their generosity recently with a recognition luncheon at Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
Nine senior adults were recognized for logging more than 1,000 volunteer hours in the past year. Trew doubled that milestone, notching 2,394 RSVP hours in 12 months,
The top volunteer packed the equivalent of 59 work weeks into the 52 previous weeks.
According to the Independent Sector, a leadership forum for charities, foundations and corporate giving programs, a volunteer’s time is valued at $20.85. Using this formula, that’s comparable to a $49,914 donation that she made.
At Memorial North Shore, Trew assists with clerical duties and medical records.
“She helps with filing and coordinating paperwork and charts. She is like a data queen,” said Jean Payne, Memorial Health Care System volunteer director.
Trew is no stranger to hard work. She said she worked almost 40 years at National Service Industries Inc., where she “started right out of high school and worked up to administrative assistant.”
The volunteer said she works Mondays-Fridays, but it’s not uncommon for her to come in on Saturdays, even Sundays, to help if needed.
“I like the job. They’re good people to work with,” she said.
RSVP also announced Jim Rogers has been named the recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Award.
This award recognizes one youth and one adult volunteer from each of Tennessee’s 95 counties.
“The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is a great example of how Alexian Brothers Senior Ministries enriches lives in the area. We are so honored to have these experienced and dedicated individuals in our presence,” said Michelle Turner, marketing coordinator, Alexian Brothers Senior Ministries.
Senior Work force
The 374 RSVP volunteers have collectively donated 73,900 hours over the last 12 months.
Nine gave more than 1,000 hours helping others. They are:
* Alyce Ownby, 1,006 hours
* Jean D. Bruewer, 1,033 hours
* Gifford Walker, 1,046 hours
* Linda Duff, 1,267 hours
* Jim Rogers, 1,308 hours
* Roy Stratton, 1,395 hours
* Susan Brandenburg, 1,957 hours
* Pauline Stratton, 1,971 hours
* Kathleen Trew, 2,394 hours
Source: Alexian Brothers Senior Neighbors