Volunteers with Disabilities Proudly Serve Elmer Hospital
Volunteers from Bancroft NeuroHealth recently honored as part of Volunteer Appreciation Week
Mullica Hill, NJ – As part of Volunteer Appreciation Week, South Jersey Healthcare recently honored its volunteers at a breakfast held at Centerton Country Club. Among the volunteers were two individuals who are served by Bancroft NeuroHealth, an organization that aids children and adults with developmental disabilities, brain injuries and other neurological complications. These individuals, Raymond Granrath, 36 and Jeff Piker 52, proudly donate their time to Elmer Hospital with another person served, William Kalellis, 42. They perform a variety of tasks from collating materials and organizing mailings to maintaining cleanliness throughout the facility.
“The Bancroft volunteers greatly enjoy their experiences at Elmer Hospital,” said Charisse Montone, Employment Specialist, Bancroft NeuroHealth. “This opportunity not only enables them to give back to the community, but it also helps them feel like members of the greater community as they socialize with people and meet new friends. Volunteering has helped them gain both independence and happiness.”
In September, both Raymond and Jeff received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, which is presented to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service and civic participation over the course of a 12-month period. The prestigious award is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation on behalf of the President of the United States to recognize the best in American spirit, and to encourage all Americans to improve their communities through volunteer service and civic participation. Today, they both proudly display their award in the shape of a bronze pin, which sits alongside another pin they received after completing 100 hours of service at the hospital.
Through their positions at Elmer Hospital, all three individuals, who reside on Bancroft’s Mullica Hill campus, have discovered additional ways to serve the community, whether it is through raising money for Alex’s lemonade stand, volunteering at other Bancroft events or donating their time at the democratic and republican party headquarters in Gloucester County.
“It‘s great to see persons with disabilities participating in their communities and giving something back through volunteering,” said Kathy Ross, Vice President, Corporate and Family Services, Bancroft NeuroHealth. “At Bancroft, we know first hand how much people with disabilities want to be involved and want to help, and so we are pleased to support the spirit of volunteerism throughout the organization. We’re very proud and pleased to see so many of the individuals we serve truly embrace this spirit and receive recognition for their efforts.”
About Bancroft NeuroHealth
Founded in 1883, Bancroft NeuroHealth annually serves more than 1,200 children and adults with developmental
disabilities, brain injuries and other neurological impairments. Based in Haddonfield, N.J., Bancroft has
sites in Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem counties in New Jersey, and in Delaware. Programs
include education, rehabilitation, vocational, residential, evaluation and treatment services.
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