Heavener wins honor as hospice volunteer

YOUNGSTOWN — Kathy Heavener of Youngstown, a Hospice of the Valley volunteer, has been chosen as one of only 30 Ohioans to earn the distinction of Outstanding Senior Volunteer for 2007 by Medical Mutual of Ohio.

Heavener, a companion volunteer at Hospice, provides friendship and caring for terminally ill patients. In nominating her, Hospice officials wrote: “Kathy enhances the well-being of all the patients she is assigned to by providing them with one-to-one attention as if they were her own family. She has the ability to determine their needs and respond appropriately.”

According to Hospice, Heavener always jumps right in for whatever needs to be done, whether it be visiting patients or participating in fundraisers. “Her dedication to the mission of volunteering for terminally ill patients is inspiring,” Hospice wrote.