Troy Regional Medical Center honored its volunteers Monday with a reception at the hospital in connection with National Volunteer Week.

Faye Lunsford, TRMC director of support services, said the TRMC volunteers are extremely valuable to the hospital.

“It would be difficult for me to say just how important our volunteers are to our hospital,” Lunsford said. “They are extremely important because they do so many things. Really, we couldn’t do without them.”

The volunteers work their own schedules and help in different areas of the hospital.

“They all seem to really enjoy being here, doing things for our patients,” Lunsford said. “Our volunteers take magazines, newspapers and game books to the patients’ rooms. They keep fresh coffee in the waiting areas. They assist visitors with where they need to go. We have a lot of outpatient procedures and those patients and their families will often need directions.”

Lunsford said the volunteers fill in for Betty King, receptionist, when she is on break or at lunch.

“Our volunteers are willing to assist in any way they are needed,” she said. “They are a dedicated group and I would not even want to think about not having them. I appreciate them so much. Everybody at Troy Regional Medical Center appreciates our volunteers.”

TRMC has nine volunteers and five student volunteers, two high school students and three university students.

“These student volunteers work in specific departments depending on their interest,” Lunsford. “They want to know more about what goes on in those areas as they are considering going into the medical field. We appreciate them and their dedication.”

Troy Mayor Jason A. Reeves attended the reception and said volunteers can connect with local community service organizations through different community service organizations like Troy Regional Medical Center.

“During this week all over the nation, service projects will be performed and volunteers recognized for their commitment to service,” Reeves said. “The giving of oneself in service to another, empowers the giver and the recipient.

“I am so grateful to these volunteers who give so freely of their time. Time is precious.”

Reeves said experience teaches that government by itself cannot solve all of this nation’s social problems.

“Our country’s volunteer force of more than 63 million is a great treasure,” he said. “Volunteers are vital to our future as a caring and productive nation.”

Reeves expressed his appreciation to the TRMC volunteers. He read a proclamation declaring the week of April 12-18 National Volunteer Week in Troy and urging Troy citizens to become volunteers in their community.