PARIS – More than 80 out of 117 volunteers attended the annual Volunteer Brunch at the Maine Veterans’ Home, South Paris, on April 22.

Pat Paar, activities supervisor, said, “The total number of logged volunteer hours exceeded 4,000 for the year.

This total number does not include hours that were not recorded. Many of our volunteers come in and lend a hand without logging in, giving us many more total hours than what is listed.”

The Dietary Department prepared a home-style brunch buffet, which consisted of omelets, home fries, biscuits with gravy and chipped beef, fresh fruit and breakfast pastries.

A certificate of award was presented to each volunteer, and each was recognized for the number of hours he or she contributed to the facility.

Volunteers with the highest contributing hours were Sidney Murphy and Joan Hebert, contributing more than 500 hours, and Joe Cooney, more than 200 hours.

Volunteerism is a growing activity and the reasons for volunteering may be different for everyone. Sid Murphy’s husband was a resident at the home. When he died, she decided to do something good for others instead of staying at home feeling sorry for herself. “I love the Maine Veterans’ Home,” she said with a smile, “and I never refuse when they ask me to help.”

For more information about becoming a volunteer or the home, call 743-6300 or 1-888-684-4668 or visit the Web at maineveteranshomes.org.

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