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Community Corner

Sunny Hill recognizes volunteers at annual ceremony

     JOLIET – More than 20,000 hours of volunteering and three award winners were honored during Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County’s annual recognition ceremony on Saturday, April 26.

     The Schuth Gratia Deo Volunteer of the Year, the Helping Hands Group Award and Sunshine Resident Volunteer of the Year Award were all presented at the afternoon event.

     A surprised Larry Lindholm, retired Activity Director at the county-owned facility, was named the Volunteer of the Year.  He was unable to be at the ceremony on Saturday, but was given the award on Monday.

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     “The residents always made me feel welcome when I worked there, and that has continued since I retired and began volunteering,” he said.

     Administrator Karen Sorbero said, “Volunteers have no idea what type of difference they make in our lives – what every touch, every smile, every day they share with us has upon us every single day.

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     “Larry has always put the residents first – not only when he worked as the facility’s Activity Director and Volunteer Coordinator – but his legacy of caring continues on in our community and facility now that he has retired.  The lives of our residents are better because of his constant commitment and caring.”

    Lindholm retired on Dec. 31, 2012. He also volunteers as a religious education instructor at both St. Patrick and St. Paul Catholic Churches.

     The group award went to Sonshine Outreach Ministries, a traveling ministry that goes to nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It was started in 2005 by Joyce and Verlin Mancke.

     Four churches belong to the organization, which provides music, devotions and visits to 16 facilities in Bolingbrook, Joliet, Romeoville and Springfield.

     Robin Pasderetz of Sonshine Outreach Ministries gave the invocation at the event.

     “We always feel blessed when we are here,” she said. Some residents know the words to their songs and join in. “We love them all.”

    The 2013 Sunshine Volunteer of the Year goes to a resident who volunteers for the facility. This year’s winner was an employee, retiring from the Activity Department in the 1980s, before she made Sunny Hill her home.

     Winner Florence Pazulinec is president of Sunny Hill’s Resident Council. In a written message as president she praised all those who help at the facility, saying “Volunteers are the angels of Sunny Hill.”

     In all, 320 volunteers aided the nursing home in 2013, donating more than 11,000 hours of time, Danette Krieger, Activity Director and Volunteer Coordinator, reported. Thirty-seven community groups supplied talent, time and activities during the year.

     Sunshine Volunteers provided another 12,356 hours.

     Additional information about Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County, go to www.willcountyillinois.com or find the facility on Facebook.

     To find out about volunteer opportunities, call Krieger at (815) 727-8711.

     The nursing home is under County Executive Larry Walsh’s office. Walsh commended all those who volunteer.

     “Thank you to everybody who gives to the residents at Sunny Hill,” Walsh said. “You make their home a more enjoyable place to live.”

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