Volunteers from throughout Lincoln County Healthcare, as well as from the St. Andrews Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop and the Miles Memorial Hospital League Thrift Shop attended the Lincoln County Healthcare Volunteer Appreciation Brunch, June 19 at St. Patrick’s Church in Newcastle.

Lincoln County Healthcare President and CEO James Donovan thanked the volunteers for their time and service, and, most of all, for improving the patient experience. About 270 volunteers gave more than 17,500 hours last year, said Donovan, a gift valued at just under $400,000. When funds donated by the League and Auxiliary are included, the level of support rises to $571,000.

“The friendly greeting at the door, the information on where to go, the bedside visitation,” Donovan said. “These and countless acts of kindness complement our clinical care throughout the organization. It is difficult to assign a dollar value to that.”