Sharon has volunteered at Methodist Richardson Medical Center (MRMC) for 20 years and given over 5,025 hours of her time and talent to patients, visitors, and staff. Sharon has the patience and empathy to work with those who need more assistance to fulfill their volunteer duties. Her decades of work experience as a registered nurse allows her to guide volunteers to further enhance their ability to contribute. She makes sure these amazing volunteers have the training and understanding to complete tasks on their own at their skill level. Her genuine compassion for people is exceeded only by her honest desire to help and to give back, to volunteers and patients alike, something she does almost as second nature. In addition, she aids in offering informational assistance at the Main Lobby and Women’s Services desk, assembles patient amenity bags as well as lab kits, escorts both patients and visitors to their destinations, and delivers flowers to nurses stations, saving countless labor hours and dollars for hospital staff.

During Covid the MRMC volunteer program was paused. As volunteers were asked to stay home, Sharon’s drive kept her moving. Her help was requested and she answered the call. When needed, she shops for and delivers requested supplies, such as clothing, underwear, bras, and socks for subjects in the Behavioral Health unit who are often admitted without these critical life necessities. Her initiative provides a sense of security in what can be an unsettling time for these patients.

Carole has been in Richardson Volunteers in Police Service for 10 years and has logged over 3,400 volunteer hours. Her primary project has been to coordinate the Residential Lockbox Program on behalf of the Office of Emergency Management, RPD and Richardson Fire. She formulated a loose pile of records into an organized systematic confidential database that she maintains weekly and now oversees 1,034 Lockbox and File of Life records. Her efforts to cross-reference lockbox information with the Office of Emergency Management’s Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP) has proven to be an invaluable resource. The result is a priceless peace-of-mind for all Richardson residents who participate in this program.

While the service above earned her the recognition, she also volunteers in many other roles with the RPD on an ad hoc basis as needs occur.