Supply, N.C. - At a recent volunteer appreciation banquet, Brunswick Community Hospital leaders recognized the hospital???s 59 volunteers for the nearly 10,000 hours of time they contributed to the hospital in 2009.

???Every day, you give unselfishly of yourself from the smile and the greeting at the door to the assistance that someone needs in the surgical waiting room to find out how a loved one is or to suggestions for that special gift for the new baby and mother in the gift shop,??? said Deborah Rochelle, manager of service excellence and volunteers for the hospital.

Volunteer contributions that were celebrated included the nearly $10,000 raised through volunteer fundraisers, the 13,000 newspapers that were delivered by volunteers to patients during the year, and the 3,500 recycled notepads created and distributed in 2009. Hospital volunteers were also able to donate three $1,000 healthcare scholarships to Brunswick Community College students in 2009.

In addition to Brunswick Community Hospital???s traditional volunteers, the hospital???s 17 chaplains and numerous home volunteers were recognized for their contributions. The chaplains provide volunteer chaplaincy services to hospital patients 24 hours per day, seven day a week, and the home volunteers knit blankets and baby caps for the hospital???s newborns and sew teddy bears for children who are patients at the hospital.

Home volunteers recognized included the Sea Trail Grandmas, Seaside Methodist Church Teddy Bear Ministry, Project Linus, Carolina Shores Kniting Group, Brunswick Quilters, and the Saltaire Bears group.

For more information on Brunswick Community Hospital???s volunteer program or to request an application, call (910) 755-1211 or visit www.BrunswickCommunityHospital.org.

# # #