CMH honors Barbara Owens with Hutcheson Award
Citizens Memorial Hospital recognized Auxiliary volunteer Barbara Owens with the 2025 Lillian Hutcheson Award during the Auxiliary’s quarterly meeting April 18.
Each year, the CMH Auxiliary presents the Lillian Hutcheson Award to an outstanding volunteer who demonstrates commitment, dedication and compassion to patients, residents and the organization. The award is named in honor of Lillian Hutcheson, who founded the Auxiliary program before CMH opened in 1982.
Owens has volunteered 2,224 hours during the past seven years and serves in the CMH Gift Garden every Friday afternoon.
“Barbara is such a joy to be around and is a faithful volunteer for the CMH Auxiliary,” said Auxiliary Director Shantelle Posten. “It is so hard to choose just one volunteer to honor each year because we have so many volunteers who make a huge difference for patients at CMH.”
The auxiliary has 300 volunteers who donate more than 22,000 hours annually. Volunteers support CMH in a variety of ways, from staffing information desks to hosting fundraising events. The auxiliary donated more than $150,000 to CMH in fiscal year 2024 for purchases that improve the patient experience.
“Volunteering with the CMH Auxiliary is so rewarding,” Posten said. “Our volunteers quickly become friends and truly enjoy their service to CMH.”
Learn more online about joining the CMH Auxiliary or call Posten at 417-328-6432.