Photos: Around Town

Darla Bires (left), volunteer services coordinator at Madison County Hospital, and Fred Kolb (right), CEO, present Verna Gallimore with her recognition awards for 20,000 hours of service to the hospital.

One volunteer puts in 20,000 hours

   In a surprise presentation, Madison County Hospital recognized hospital volunteer, Verna Gallimore, for her 20,000 hours of service. Her time volunteered at the hospital is equivalent to 10 years of full-time employment.
   Gallimore was to be recognized for her accomplishment at the hospital’s annual volunteer luncheon held in early September, but was out of town and unable to attend the event. The hospital hoped to recognize her at the hospital’s annual corporation dinner meeting, but that meeting was cancelled due to power outages in the Lake Choctaw Area.
   Determined not to let her accomplishments go by without recognition, the hospital administration and staff planned a surprise celebration for Gallimore while she was volunteering at the hospital on Sept. 17.
   Gallimore is a life-long resident of Madison County and has been an active member of the Madison County Hospital Auxiliary and a hospital volunteer since her retirement as office manager at Orelton Farms in 1981.
   She has held every office position for the MCH Auxiliary, including president, and serving as volunteer manager of the gift shop for almost a decade. Gallimore still delivers mail throughout the hospital each week and works two shifts a week in the gift shop. She volunteers at Auxiliary events like the Holiday Gift Show, Lights of Love, Fall Fling, flower sales and Bake Nic. Gallimore is famous for her home-baked pies that are sold before she gets them out of the oven. She baked 36 pies for this year’s Bake Nic.
   Earlier this year, Gallimore was named an American Red Cross Hometown Hero for her volunteer work and involvement with the Auxiliary. She is described by those who work with her as “your everyday quiet hero.”
When asked why she volunteers, Gallimore said, “I gain more than I give and I give from the heart.”

Messenger photo by Jeff Pfeil

Strickland visits senior center

Governor Ted Strickland addresses the crowd at the Madison County Senior Citizens Center in London Sept. 29.  He spoke about the nation’s financial crisis, the need for energy development in Ohio, and Board of Election hours for voting.