Local Residents Honored For Volunteer Service By Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center
April 08, 2019
In the Photo: (at front middle) Beatriz Garcia of Edgewater receives a special volunteer recognition award for her 18,500 hours of volunteer service over the course of more than 20 years at Palisades Medical Center. Pictured with Ms. Garcia are (left to right) Aaron A. Stein, MD, chief medical officer; Patricia Carroll, FACHE, chief operating officer; Joseph G. Burt, vice president/executive director of the Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center Foundation; Denise Whitley, coordinator of Volunteer Services; and Heather Veltre, MS, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, chief nursing office.
Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center celebrated National Volunteer Week by holding a special luncheon at The Waterside in North Bergen to recognize its dedicated volunteers for their tireless efforts.
“Our volunteers play a vital role in helping Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center provide high quality care for our community,” said Joseph Burt, vice president/executive director of the Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center Foundation. “They truly exemplify what it means to make a strong commitment to caring for our neighbors each and every day.”
More than 200 volunteers offer their time and energy in almost every department of Palisades Medical Center, including student volunteers from Academies at Englewood, Bergen County Special Services School District, Cliffside Park High School, Leonia High School, Weehawken High School and Union City High School.
During the Volunteer Recognition Luncheon, Palisades Medical Center team members gave special awards and recognition to the following local residents to recognize their cumulative hours of volunteer service:
18,500 Hours
Beatriz Garcia of Edgewater
2,500 Hours
Joan Bacon of Jersey City
1,500 Hours
Ellen Lewis of Guttenberg
1,000 Hours
Les Scharin of Guttenberg
750 Hours
Norma Manigan of Guttenberg
500 Hours
Thomas Salvia of Cresskill
Irma Schwartz of West New York
250 Hours
Franklin Argueta of West New York
Karen Gregory of Union City
100 Hours
Megan Bjelis of Ridgefield
Linda McGarry of Cliffside Park
Rondall Page of Irvington
Su Thaw of Fort Lee
Volunteer activities at Palisades Medical Center include assisting the nursing staff and patients, working in the Gift Shop, performing clerical duties, and organizing special fundraising events. For more information or to volunteer, please call Denise Whitley, coordinator of Volunteer Services, at 201-854-5011.
About Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center
Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center is located at 7600 River Road in North Bergen, NJ, and it serves a population of 450,000 in Hudson and southern Bergen counties. The not-for-profit medical center is a part of the Hackensack Meridian Health System, and it features a 206-bed hospital and The Harborage, a 245-bed nursing home and rehabilitation center. Palisades Medical Center is ranked as one of the top hospitals of its size in New Jersey by Inside Jersey magazine and Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. Palisades Medical Center is the largest employer in its service area with more than 1,300 employees. It has been recognized as one of Modern Healthcare's Best Places to Work in Healthcare. For more information, please call 201-854-5000.