Tabitha Health Care Services in May held its annual volunteer appreciation event to extend the organization’s thanks and gratitude to more than 1,400 volunteers who gave their time and talents to Tabitha’s Elders in 2011.

Throughout 2011, volunteers supported the organization by providing companionship to Elders, assisting with activities, giving comfort to clients and families of Tabitha Hospice, assisting with administrative tasks, and delivering meals and providing invaluable safety checks to Tabitha Meals on Wheels clients. Together, volunteers donated more than 60,000 hours of service throughout 28 Nebraska counties.

In 2012 Tabitha’s volunteer department had even more to celebrate as it welcomed Deb Van Dyke-Ries as director or volunteers. Van Dyke-Ries came to Tabitha with extensive experience in social work and program coordination. She previously served as a program coordinator at CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) and as an adjunct professor of social work at Nebraska Wesleyan University. She gained experience working with Elders in Kansas City as an adult services specialist and case manager with Heart of America Family Services.

Tabitha accepts new volunteers every day and will work with anyone interested to create a volunteer experience tailored to each individual’s schedule, abilities and passions.

To get started sharing your talents with Tabitha’s Elders, please visit them online at www.Tabitha.org.