Media release from Atrium Health Floyd:
Four volunteers at Atrium Health Floyd have been recognized as Good Samaritans for their dedication and willingness to serve. April 20-26 is National Volunteer Week.
This year’s honorees include Sis “Lavina” Akins, Heyman Hospice Care; Tom Harper, the gift shop at Floyd Medical Center; Linda Shafarow, the gift shop at Polk Medical Center and Kathleen Temple, Floyd Healthcare Foundation.
“These volunteers were selected for Atrium Health Floyd’s Good Samaritan of the Year because they exemplify the heart of servant leadership,” said Carolyn Falcitelli, director of Volunteer Services at Atrium Health Floyd. “As volunteers, they consistently give their time and energy throughout the year to support our mission and enhance the well-being of our community.”
Sis Akins
Akins has been volunteering at Heyman Hospice for about a year. She said the care her mom and dad received there played a role in her decision to volunteer.
“That’s when I became aware they are an amazing group of people,” she said. She visits the families when the patient is in the last phase of life.
“I just love the life stories, hearing those and being able to help them remember the good times,” Akins said. “Hopefully, I am adding to their day and making it a good one for them.”
Tom Harper
Harper said volunteering with Atrium Health Floyd seemed like a natural progression after he retired about four years ago. His sister, Amy Burgess, is a teammate at Heyman Hospice.
“I really enjoy giving back and just being around people,” Harper said. “I think that is why I like the gift shop. I am pretty much a people person.
He said he does whatever is needed, running the cash register, doing the heavy lifting and just chatting with visitors.
His teammates say he has a servant’s heart and is an indispensable part of the volunteer team.
Linda Shafarow
Linda Shafarow said she enjoys working at the gift shop at Polk Medical Center, where she has been selling items and interacting with customers for about a year.
“It’s really nice getting to know people and interacting with them,” Shafarow said. She works at the shop about two days a week.
“It’s a nice break from sitting at home,” she added.
Her teammates say her ever-present smile and unwavering helpfulness create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all those patients and visitors who come into the store.
Kathleen Temple
Kathleen Temple has been on the Floyd Healthcare Foundation for a quarter of a century and serves as secretary. She said advocating about the important role Floyd Medical Center plays in the community is a big part of her mission.
“I believe in a strong hospital because strong hospitals are good for communities, and nobody wants to live in a community that doesn’t have a strong hospital,” Temple said.
Temple has two children, and both were born at Floyd Medical Center.
“We have always said in our family that if something happens, take us to Floyd,” she said. “If Floyd were not here, a lot of the community needs would not be met.”
Temple’s teammates say her dedication, willingness to participate and sage advice are important to the foundation.
To learn more about volunteering at Atrium Health Floyd, visit https://www.floyd.org/careers/Pages/Volunteer.aspx
