MARY LOU DUNCAN

Ms. Duncan began volunteering at Palmetto Health Baptist in the role of Personal Touch Volunteer upon her retirement in July of 1992 and since that time has accumulated 3395.2 service hours. An exemplary volunteer, Ms. Duncan upholds the value of extended dedication to volunteer service as well as excellence in delivery of service.

As a Personal Touch Volunteer, Ms. Duncan works directly with patients, offering practical assistance, meaningful emotional support and compassion to the lonely and suffering. She volunteers on Family Place, the unit which combines services for mothers recovering from delivery and for women recovering from gynecologic surgery. Ms. Duncan reinforces instructions about baby care and breast-feeding, which studies show directly with adoptions. She works with anxious first time or unwed moms who are often disconnected from the larger community. In addition, she answers bedside and bathroom call lights, packs and transports patient’s belongings, transports patients, offers the old-fashioned “nursing back rub” for relaxation and healing, and meets a multitude of other performance criteria.

Ms. Duncan has exceeded her responsibilities as a Personal Touch Volunteer by participating on our Steering Committee on the issue of PTV Retention, by interviewing prospective volunteers and by training new volunteers.

As a member of The Blythewood Church of God of Prophecy, Ms. Duncan once again contributes hard work and dedicated volunteer hours. She writes and designs a weekly newsletter that serves as a church bulletin. In addition, she sings in the church choir, works in the nursery, and teaches the adult Sunday school class.

Ms. Duncan is a kind and caring person who enjoys helping others. When told that she was being nominated, she responded, “There are so many people who do so much! Why me?” Her response confirmed that she is humble in her giving and truly a valued and well-deserved nominee.