WellStar Douglas Hospital volunteers donated more than 13,000 hours of their time last year, and they had an hour of their own Tuesday as the hospital sponsored a noon luncheon to recognize the volunteers’ many contributions.

The meal at the Douglasville Downtown Conference Center was part of the National Volunteer Week (April 27-May 3) observation at WellStar.

“The Douglas Auxiliary is celebrating its 33rd anniversary this year,” said Jeanette Wheeler, volunteer services manager at WellStar Douglas. “Two of our volunteers, Betty Noland and Marilynn Coats, began volunteering in 1975.”

Noland recalls that six Douglas County women got together on March 5, 1975 to discuss organizing an auxiliary.

“Our first purchase was a gift cart that we used to sell items such as chewing gum, candy and tissues to the patients,” Noland said. “By the end of our first year, membership had grown to 55 and we opened the gift shop.”

Current membership is 72, with 60 active members. Noland said volunteers work in all areas of the hospital, including the information desk, emergency room, operating room, pastoral care and all nursing units. They operate the gift shop and hold several special sales throughout the year. These include sales of uniforms, linens, leather goods, books and jewelry. All profits are donated to hospital projects.

“Last year we donated about $55,000 to the hospital,” Noland said.

Wheeler said more volunteers are always needed. Information about volunteering is available by calling Wheeler at 770-920-6248.