An employee and volunteer at Oak Valley Hospital District and a student at Riverbank High School took home top honors from the OVHD Auxiliary Appreciation program.

Chosen as the 2018 Volunteer of the Year was Belinda Knight, who is employed at the hospital but also donates plenty of her days off to the facility as well. She logged 168 volunteer hours in 2018.

“She gives us a lot of her time,” said award presenter Doreen Dumlao, president of the auxiliary. “Now she is here on her days off; thank you, Belinda, we couldn’t do it without you.”

She was presented with a bouquet of flowers, certificates of recognition and her name was placed on a perpetual plaque.

Knight has worked at the hospital for over 10 years, starting in the housekeeping department and now working in phlebotomy.

“On my days off, I still like volunteering,” she said.

Fatima Ibarra, from Riverbank, donated 90 hours of service to the Oak Valley Hospital District in 2018 and was named as the Junior Volunteer of the Year, recognized for her dedication and commitment at the annual Auxiliary Appreciation program honoring volunteers on Friday, April 12.

“She has worked in all the different departments,” said award presenter Pat Mistry. “Medical records, the Care Center, in the hospital.”

Like Knight, Ibarra also received flowers, special recognition certificates and her name on a plaque.

The afternoon program featured refreshments, the special awards and recognition, and a review of some of the auxiliary’s volunteer programs.

The gift shop, now called the ‘Corner Boutique,” has sold over $15,000 worth of items already this year and it was also noted that ambulances are equipped with teddy bears, to be given out to those in crisis; child or adult.

The highest number of volunteer hours in 2018 was logged by Megan Brown, working 1,243 volunteer hours.

Several volunteers worked 500-plus hours including Dumlao, 501; Joe Stillman, 514; Linda Schwartz, 661; Cathline Oliveira, 818; and Brown, with the 1,234. A dozen junior volunteers were also thanked for their hours of service, including award winner Ibarra. Volunteers honored for years of service were Dumlao, five; Linda Schwartz, 15; and Joyce Benge, 20 years.

Brian Beck, the OVHD Vice President of Human Resources, thanked all the volunteers for their efforts on behalf of the hospital district.