As a not-for-profit, community-based organization, Samaritan relies on the support of a volunteer base of almost 400 individuals of all ages and talents. The organization continues to welcome all those interested in volunteering to join its growing volunteer team in selfless, compassionate service through a wide range of opportunities, including providing companionship to patients, becoming a Friendly Caller, assisting with office work, helping with fundraisers and more.

Recently, Samaritan honored its volunteers for notable service hour milestones and continued dedication to its mission at its 2024 Winterfest celebration – an annual event recognizing the hard work, commitment to excellence and compassionate care given by Samaritan employees and community volunteers.

Samaritan’s President and CEO Phillip W. Heath recognized the following individuals at the event for their notable hours of service:

Rodie Boyle (Moorestown) – 4,500 Service Hours

Boyle has committed 22 years of dedicated service supporting the organization in various capacities: assisting the Development department with mailings, phone calls and computer work, supporting Samaritan’s annual golf tournament Drive FORE! A Good Cause by registering golfers and “sitting holes,” greeting visitors at The Samaritan Center at Voorhees, helping The Samaritan Center for Grief Support collate beautiful clay hearts for bereavement packets and representing Samaritan at community events. Boyle’s enthusiasm, spunk and devotion to Samaritan’s mission of care make her a cherished and valued volunteer.

Judith Stewart (Medford) – 3,500 Service Hours

Stewart began volunteering at Samaritan two decades ago alongside Boyle, her longtime friend. She supports Samaritan’s Development team by maintaining its database of donors, helps at Samaritan’s annual golf tournament Drive FORE! A Good Cause and volunteers as a greeter at The Samaritan Center at Voorhees. Stewart is known for her kind and gentle spirit and is appreciated for her many years of selfless dedication, compassionate care and steadfast service.

Peggy Heisler (Audubon) – 2,500 Service Hours

Since 2016, Heisler has dedicated her time and talent to supporting Samaritan as a hospice volunteer. She helps by providing companionship, comfort and respite for Samaritan’s patients and their families, as well as serving as a greeter at The Samaritan Center at Voorhees and a Samaritan ambassador at countless community events. Heisler also supports The Samaritan Center for Grief Support by making outreach calls to bereaved family members and sewing Memory Bears.

“I can say with utmost confidence that Rodie, Judy and Peggy are living examples of the Samaritan mission – enthusiastic in their willingness to serve and lend a helping hand in any capacity, at any time,” said Heath. “On behalf of Samaritan, I extend my gratitude to these kind, generous and compassionate individuals for their continued support of our organization – we wholeheartedly thank each of you for your gifts of time, empathy and care.”

For more information about volunteering at Samaritan, visit www.samaritannj.org/volunteer.

About Samaritan:

Samaritan is a not-for-profit, independent organization locally founded in Moorestown, New Jersey in 1980 as one of the first hospices in the country. Samaritan is now one of the State’s leading providers of hospice care, palliative (comfort) medicine, at-home primary care, grief support and counseling, advanced illness care, education and advocacy. Samaritan serves people in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties who are coping with the stresses of aging, serious illness or grief wherever they call home. Samaritan also has two dedicated inpatient hospice centers in Voorhees and Mount Holly. Beyond the services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance plans, Samaritan annually provides nearly $1M in donor-funded non-reimbursed care for patients and families in the South Jersey region. A thrift shop in Westmont also supports Samaritan services and programs. Samaritan is accredited by The Joint Commission; a member of the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation; and is a four-star hospice in the national We Honor Veterans program. For more information, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org.