Nearly 3,000 hours of volunteer time between them earned an invitation to the governor’s mansion in Washington for Joan Olson and Candy Johnson.
Olson, a member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Kitsap County, and Johnson, a Senior Companion volunteer in Pierce County, are among the 39 recipients of this year’s Governor’s Volunteer Award. The annual recognition of volunteer service was made official during a presentation ceremony in April at the residence of Governor Jay Inslee on the capitol grounds in Olympia. Olson and Johnson were accompanied at the ceremony by representatives of their programs, which are administered by Lutheran Community Services Northwest.
Olson was nominated for the award by Harrison Medical Center, a partner agency of the RSVP system that’s based in Bremerton. Since 2003, she has donated about 2,200 hours as a volunteer at the hospital’s labor and delivery registration desk in Silverdale. “She is a valued presence on Thursday mornings, welcoming moms-to-be and visitors while helping to ensure the safety of patients and babies by checking IDs and providing visitor access,” hospital officials said in nominating her.
Olson got involved in order to give back to Harrison and its home health services which allowed her husband, Dr. Donald Olson, to stay at home at the end of his life. Joan said she enjoys reading, gardening and playing bridge with friends, but finds volunteering is a meaningful way to give back to others.
Johnson has volunteered for about a year with the Tacoma-based Senior Companion and has already contributed more than 655 hours of time and provided 147 trips for eight clients in Pierce County. She serves clients who are frail, vision-impaired or have chronic disabilities by providing companionship and transportation for medical appointments and grocery shopping.
Senior Companion officials said Johnson is “steadfast and dedicated to her clients. She works hard to identify their needs and helps direct them to community resources.”
Information on RSVP and Senior Companion is available at lcsnw.org.
The 39 award winners range in age from 15 to 82 and hail from 14 counties, including Pierce, Kitsap and King.
“I join all Washingtonians in thanking these individuals who contribute tirelessly to their communities,” Inslee said. “I encourage others to look for opportunities that not only provide valuable experience, but also help strengthen our communities and state.”
Washington ranks ninth nationally in states’ level of volunteerism, according to Serve Washington, a state-sponsored organization that promotes volunteering.
“We are proud of what our volunteers offer to communities across the state,” said Debbie Shuffenhauer, executive director of Serve Washington.