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Westfield Leader The Center for Hope Hospice, a non-profit organization, honored its 250 volunteers with a dinner at The Westwood
on April 29. The dinner capped National Volunteer Week, held April 21 through 27. George E. Keenen, Jr., a long-time resident of Westfield currently living in Scotch Plains, was cited as the
"Volunteer of the Year". He received a plaque from the hospice and a proclamation from Ms. Linda-Lee Kelly, a member of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Mr. Keenen has been with the hospice
since its inception in the late 1970s, performing a multitude of important tasks. "I feel very proud to have been honored and I hope it doesn't sound trite when I say I felt unworthy," said Mr.
Keenen. " I thought it was a great evening and the warmth in that room is everything that hospice care is all about." Mr. Keenen has done everything asked of him by hospice Co-Founders, Mrs.
Margaret J. Coloney and the Reverend Charles Hudson , over the past 17 years. He has been a caregiver, a teacher, a driver and now serves as the Editor of its newsletter.
Ms. Diane Coloney, the Director of Volunteers, said she understands how important Mr. Keenen has been to the hospice. "George is so wonderful- reliable, dedicated, and will do whatever he is
asked"she said. "George is the type of person driven by something deep inside to help other people." "I think everyone has an obligation to be a volunteer," said Mr. Keenen.
"Volunteerism is like blood in our social system--it keeps it going." |
