Day 41 of 110: Community Service

At our February chapter meeting, our chapter presented Colonel Joseph Winston Daughter Kate Thomas with the Community Service Award. Following is the letter of recommendation submitted by the Chapter Regent to the NCSDAR State Chairman of the Community Service Committee who reviews and approves all nominations for the Community Service Award.

I am very pleased to recommend Kate Thomas for the Community Service Award. In all honesty, this is a long overdue honor that should have been extended to Kate in a prior year. I sincerely hope to rectify that with this nomination now.

Kate is exceptionally devoted to her volunteer work at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center (FKA Forsyth Memorial Hospital). In a typical year, Kate averages over 11 hours a week – a significant
commitment as a volunteer. In 2013, her hours dropped to 385 for the year (average of almost a day a
week). However, this drop was due to a broken ankle in the spring, which limited her ability to volunteer for the spring and summer. When considering this, the level of her commitment as a hospital volunteer is truly outstanding. Prior to her accident in the spring, Kate was also responsible for keeping the volunteer positions filled in the ICU areas and the hospital cited her success and commitment to this important role.

Beyond her tracked volunteer hours, Kate also noted when someone was admitted to the hospital that she knew and always took the time to visit with them. She also visited with strangers – immediately making new friends. I can personally testify to this. My mother had been admitted to the hospital and Kate discovered this. Unbeknownst to me, she visited with my mother during her lunch break. They didn’t know each other – but both obviously knew me. Kate visited again with my mother when I could not be there due to work and this was very comforting to my mother as well as to me. I later learned this was typical for Kate. She never hesitated to visit strangers - friends or relatives of her friends - to provide comfort an conversation during what is a stressful time for many. Many volunteer, but Kate is a true servant dispensing compassion and comfort beyond the traditional job of her volunteer duties. Even when she was hospitalized herself due to her ankle injury, Kate was making calls and ensuring that all of her responsibilities were covered.
 

Simultaneous to her work with Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, Kate volunteers with the North Carolina Extension and Community Association. Through this organization (where she also serves as an officer) Kate donates food for needy organizations, schools and food banks in addition to making both caps for babies at the hospital and heart pillows for heart surgical patients.

Kate is very modest about her volunteer work. I suspect she’s understated her actual work; perhaps

because she doesn’t see it as work. It’s a source of joy to her – and she’s a source of joy to all she serves as a volunteer.

I urge you to consider her for the DAR’s Community Service Award. Kate is a very deserving recipient of this award and we would be honored to present this award to her during our chapter's 110th anniversary celebration.