Elizabeth VanSickle

Elizabeth VanSickle founded Sock Monkey Ministries, Inc. This unique and unduplicated program through a community of volunteers, share a passion through a simple act of kindness, inspiring hope in the lives of orphaned children, cancer patients, AIDS patients, military personnel (Soldiers), homeless families and those in need of encouragement through a handmade gift of a sock monkey. Ms. VanSickle conceptualized and implemented “Operation…Monkey Drop” a community service project involving 450 local school children, administrators, teachers, city council, parents, in hand making 600 sock monkeys that were sent to our military personnel in Iraq. She has established satellite organizations in over 15 states. The organization holds weekly sock monkey making workshops at nursing homes, schools and church facilities.

In 2004, Elizabeth VanSickle was diagnosed with breast cancer. During cancer treatments she witnessed loneliness, fear, and helplessness in the faces of others and wanted to bring encouragement. That act has now evolved into a formalized 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that has provided well over 6500 sock monkeys to cancer patients, AIDS patients, Troops in Iraq, Orphanages, Group Homes, and many others in over a three year time period.

The internal drive to reach those suffering through a labor of love encouraged her to continue and expand the program in which some of the recipients have also become volunteers assembling gifts. Our volunteers range from the age of 2 to 96! Our volunteers are living in nursing homes; we utilize Alzheimer patients, schools, community centers, and shelters, as an outreach by inspiring service in others and bringing the sense of usefulness to many. It is clear her life goal is to provide the opportunity for all people to be involved in service and to promote volunteerism. The average sock monkey takes 4 hours for completion. The motivation comes from witnessing the act of service from the mentally challenged volunteer, at risk youth feeling the acceptance of others, the elderly who find a sense of renewed purpose, and the children who learn that serving others is a virtue.

Not only does the reward come from the volunteer aspect but equally important is the benefits to the recipient–the cancer patient that experiences the encouragement of a simple gift, the soldier’s heart when they receive a care package with a sock monkey and a personalized card to let them know their service is remembered, the AIDS patient who receives an empowering gift of love, and to the families that receive a fallen hero monkey honoring their solder’s act of bravery and encouragement.

Elizabeth VanSickle feels her calling is a direct “hands-on” program where the volunteers and the recipients experience the direct benefits of service. The impact thus far is over 9,500 number of people served and over 10,500 number of volunteers engaged as a result of her volunteer service. She credits the success of the organization with the tireless efforts of her many volunteers that share in her vision to touch lives one monkey at a time.

Austian Victorian

Mr. Victorian has been a St. Landry Parish Senior Companion Volunteer for the past eight years. He has three clients, two which he does respite for their wives. One of the clients is suffering from a stroke, while the other client has Alzheimer’s. Both wives cannot leave their spouse at home alone, so with the assistant of a Senior Companion Volunteer, they have each two days a week for themselves.

The wife of the client with Alzheimer’s could not believe her good fortune when she was told by a neighbor that they had such a program that could assist her. She immediately called the Senior Companion Office and was told that an assessment would be done within a few days. Mr. Victorian was then placed with her husband. It has been a great treasure for the wife, because now she can take care of her business, shopping and do her errands and not have to worry about her loved one. Since Mr. Victorian visits with him, they get to sit outside and get to walk in the yard, something he had not done in several months. When Mr. Victorian was placed at both homes, he did not know either one, now they are best of friends. If the wives should need to run an errand or need to go somewhere on the weekend, all they have to do is call Mr. Victorian and he will stay with their loved ones.

Jan & Lyle Usgaard

Jan and Lyle Usgaard have been volunteering at the Fargo VA Medical Center for over 23 years, donating over 16,789 hours combined. Jan and Lyle volunteer in such areas as Escort office, Community Health Nursing, Recreation activities and with the VAVS Advisory Committee. Both volunteers are well known to all volunteers and our employees and are highly respected for their devotion, dedication, and unselfishly caring attitude. Both Jan and Lyle have received the Presidential Lifetime Service Award for exceeding 4,000 hours.

Lyle coordinates and plans the annual “Because We Care” activities as well as coordinates the Veterans Day program with his local AMVETS organization. Both Jan and Lyle are always supporting and participating in patient activities, special events and consistently assist Recreation staff with conducting various recreation activities for the patient’s. Jan and Lyle are always there when you need them by serving refreshments during special events and programs, assisting with the VAVS Patient Casino activities, providing bingo activities and the VAVS Patient Christmas programs. Both Jan and Lyle take their volunteer duties seriously as on a couple occasions Lyle has had health issues and is always eager to return to his volunteer duties.

Both Jan and Lyle are consistently providing monetary donations as a memorial to fallen comrades. Lyle has recently been presented the AMVETS Silver Helmet award at the AMVETS National Executive Committee meeting in Washington DC. The AMVETS Silver Helmet award is the highest and most prestigious award the AMVETS bestows. Only one AMVETS member received this award annually. Jan received the AMVETS Auxiliary VAVS National Leadership Award in 2001 for caring and sharing her time and energy on behalf of America’s hospitalized Veterans.

Jan and Lyle individually volunteer more than 18 hours every week and are always available for additional projects or activities as needed. You can always rely on Jan and Lyle as they are very dependable and ready to serve and care for our veterans and willing to help our staff in order to accomplish our mission.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 12-08

Dedicated, tireless, committed, selfless and inspirational are the words that describe not just one volunteer member, but the U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary 12-08. These are America’s Volunteer Lifesavers. They are a small team of dedicated volunteers that have contributed over 2,500 hours in 10 months, providing backfill to the U.S. Coast Guard and have networked with over 17,765 community residents providing safety and environmental literature through public affairs appearances and the boating public. They still continue to put in their daily hours and if something goes on within the community they seem to always be involved.

They are a small flotilla that consists of 27 active members, some are more active than others, but together they are a team. To the group, “teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” They are volunteers whose occupations range from skilled craftsman to professional with representation from the ranks of labor and management, enterprise owners and employees, employed, unemployed and retired. They all contribute time as it fits into their schedules and the amount of hours that they dedicate to volunteer service communicates that they are “dedicated, tireless, committed, selfless, and inspirational.

Within the community they have diligently served in their obligation to keeping the waterways clean by participating in the annual “Beach Day Clean-up”. Not only do they have to keep the waters clean, they are also assisting in helping the aquatic environment thriving. The volunteers also add to the boating community public by ensuring that the vessels out on Americas waterways are safe and seaworthy, the marine dealers and the vessel safety check program become a partnership program as it better reflects the truth that they are involved with the boating community as a whole and not just the dealers. They ensure that the community boating racks are full of safety literature.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Fort Totten has spent a lot of time with the community politicians assisting with the NYS Veterans Hospital programs and Sept 11, memorial motorcades for the fallen heroes with the community. When they are not volunteering within the community, they are providing backfill to the U.S Coast Guard Station Kings Point. They try and dedicate time to providing morale, skills and expertise to the young men and women, while others put together holiday meals. They all put valuable time, energy and commitment to the U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary and to the community.

Carole Tutan

Carole Tutan has been a faithful Hospice House volunteer for Hospice Savannah since March of 1998. Over the past 9 and half years she has given almost 3,500 hours of her time. She retired from a medical office and almost immediately came to volunteer with Hospice Savannah.

Upon joining Hospice House Carole quickly stepped up to the plate to become a lead volunteer conducting support group meetings for her fellow volunteers. She faithfully attended, and continues to attend, the monthly volunteer education in-services, even though, at this point, she could probably teach many of the classes herself! She is always willing to represent us in the community at health fairs and community outreach events. Carole also volunteers every month when we invite families back to Hospice House to a Memorial Gathering to honor their deceased loved one. Carole graciously welcomes them and hugs them –so many of the families remember her from their loved one’s stay in Hospice House—and it means so much to them that she is there to greet and reminisce with them.

Carole is invaluable as a trainer of new volunteers. She is an excellent teacher, competently showing the “new kids on the block” where the supplies are stored, how to change a bed, how to set up an aromatherapy machine, where to find ice cream or sodas for the patients, etc. Yet another way that she serves is by taking responsibility for cleaning the aromatherapy machines on a regular basis. She also comes in when she knows that a patient is about to die. Very few volunteers are comfortable being on duty at this time. But Carole has a sixth sense about her—she instinctively knows which families and patients want her to be with them to guide them through the transition. She will come in at night or on the weekend to sit with a family or patient if she feels they need some extra support.

Talma Turrentine

Talma Turrentine joined the St. Francis Volunteer program in March of 2000. As of September 30, 2007 she has volunteered 7,782 hours of service to St. Francis Medical Center. Ms. Turrentine currently works 4 days a week in the gift shop. She is an invaluable member of the volunteer program. She works diligently to serve other while greeting each person as a close personal friend. Ms. Turrentine has served on the Auxiliary Executive Board has President and currently as Treasurer.

In October of 2000 the Mayme P. Scott Memorial Tennis Tournament was founded. The tennis tournament is an annual event held over one weekend to benefit areas within the hospital. Since 2001, Ms. Turrentine has been the Chairperson for the tennis tournament. Each year she contacts 70-75 businesses to help sponsor the event. In addition, she has organized the annual silent auction at the hospital to help raise money for the tennis tournament. She encourages local vendors to donate items for the ditty bags that are given to each participant in the tennis tournament. The tennis tournament attracts 45-60 tennis players each year. Proceeds from the tennis tournament are donated to the Women’s and Children’s Services Departments which includes: Maternal/Child, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Since October of 2000, $27,465 has been raised through the Mayme P. Scott Memorial Tennis Tournament. Ms. Turrentine has been faithfully devoted to organizing and making this event a success each year.

Michelle Tschudy

Michelle Tschudy and her golden retriever dog “Boo” have donated countless hours to visit patients at Exempla Good Samaritan hospital in Lafayette, CO. Michelle’s dog received a Delta Society certification to assist patients in the hospital. Michelle and Boo volunteer after work every other week at the hospital for the Animal Assisted Therapy volunteer program. Michelle sees all sorts of people in need, whether it be in the intensive care unit, imaging, pediatrics or emergency room.

Animal Assisted Therapy allows a patient to stop worrying about their health and gain comfort from an animal. It has proven to lower blood pressure and increase healing. In Michelle’s words, “Often times, when we conduct our visits some of the patients have been waiting all day to see us. They are so appreciative it’s truly amazing. It’s a small amount of time out of our day to help make someone in need feel a little better. It’s our way of giving back to the community.” Michelle and Boo have volunteered over 100 hours for three fulfilling years of service. Michelle and Boo also received an honorable mention award in 2006 through Delta Society for making a difference with their volunteering service

Tommy Timberlake

Tommy is junior at Jesuit High School in Tampa, FL. For the past two years, Tommy has compiled more than 250 hours of service to the mentally or physically disabled by teaching adults and children how to sail. He began by doing the “grunt” jobs so that he would eventually be qualified as an instructor.

Recently Tommy took a team of 9 sailors, ranging in age from 16-70 years, to a local regatta away from home base. He has worked with an autistic child whose fears were elevated by his age and handicap. Tommy gained the child’s confidence and eventually the “student” was able to steer the boat.

Diane Thompson

From the nominator:

“Diane volunteers to help run our elementary school vegetable garden program which serves 300 students. The garden program is especially important here, as we are in an urban neighborhood where over 90% of the students are living in poverty and have difficulty accessing healthy food. Diane helps runs our Summer Garden Camp and plans for, purchases materials for, and runs the After School Garden Club. She helps the kids make healthy snacks and learn about nutrition and caring for one’s body in a fun way. She volunteers with the classrooms weekly, doing nutrition and gardening activities and singing songs.

While she does a lot of work with the students, what makes Diane an even more outstanding volunteer is that she volunteers to do the unglamorous and less fun tasks of the program. She will run errands for me and will even come up with suggestions to improve programs and will carry out those ideas. She volunteers to visit the school on the weekends and evenings to water and visits the garden regularly in the evening to check up on it make sure no one is vandalizing it. She is passionate and enthusiastic and always reliable.”

Joyce Somers

From the nominator:

“Enthusiasm and passion for the true spirit of hospice was redefined for me the day Joyce Somers came into the office requesting information on how to become a hospice volunteer. Her vibrancy and excitement for the possibility to serve others was incredible, it was so contagious I felt renewed in my purpose with hospice just by being in the same room.

Joyce is currently an employee of Logan Regional Hospital working in the business office. Joyce indicated to me on our first meeting that she too had experienced hospice care with her mother. She was disappointed in her experience. She had requested a volunteer for her mother, but they had never come through. Joyce vowed that she would never let that happen to another patient and family that was in her same situation and wanted to become a hospice volunteer to do just that.

Joyce began volunteering with us in summer 2006, since that time she has worked with a very special family who have demonstrated many trials and miracles in the end of life journey. Joyce has been by their side every moment. I encourage the volunteers to be creative in finding the needs of the patient and family, but again, Joyce has and continues to exceed this request.

In example, Joyce’s patient took a turn for the worst a few months back and we were unclear if she would last much longer, knowing this Joyce had an afghan she was making for her and quickly put in 12 hours a day working to get it done before she passed away. The patient has since rallied and Joyce continues to provide the family with homemade rolls each Sunday for dinner, companionship for several hours a week, and tireless dedication to the comfort and joy of this patient and her family.”