FARMINGTON — Franklin Memorial Hospital’s Bass Room was the setting of a recognition celebration for the Franklin Community Health Network volunteers. The program included a social time and dinner and entertainment by Eddie Lee, who played various traditional Chinese instruments. All volunteers attending received gifts and certificates in recognition of their efforts, as well as pins and service bars.

The program was in memory of Caitlin Allen and Francis Merkle, volunteers who have died since the last recognition. Each gave 250 and 1,379 hours of volunteer service, respectively, to the program.

Rebecca Ryder, FCHN president/CEO, spoke about the history of volunteerism and how it has evolved over the years. She ended by thanking the volunteers for their quality work and added, “You are vital to the success of this institution; we could not do any of this without your extraordinary support. I’m taking this opportunity to officially thank you for what you do every day. You help make this organization strong and vibrant.”

FCHN has approximately 187 volunteers who help out in numerous hospital departments and affiliated FCHN organizations, contributing more than 20,000 hours of service this past year.

Volunteers can be found greeting patients at the escort desk, parking cars, decorating for special functions, filing, processing orders in shipping and receiving and reminding patients of their appointments.

Jodi Cordes, employee and volunteer services administrator, stated that 43 new volunteers were added to the program this past year, then gave special recognition to the top 10 contributors. They include Jean Orr, Eugene Martineau, Nye Mosher, Trudy Dawson, Patricia Kilkenny, Alvin McDonald, Isabelle Foss, Dawn Girardin, Lawrence Wilbur, Marilyn Baker and Thelma Brown.

Special recognition was also given to those who have contributed the greatest number of hours overall since joining the program. They include: Doris Munson, Trudy Dawson, Alvin McDonald, Lawrence Wilbur, Eugene Martineau, Patricia Kilkenny, Isabelle Foss, Roberta Fogg, Jane Tiffany and Jean Orr.

Cordes welcomes calls from anyone who might be interested in volunteering. She can be reached at 779-2635