ELY- A volunteer at the Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital has been named by the Minnesota Hospital Association as one of its four volunteers of the year.
Sandy Nickolson is part of the hospital’s community liaison committee, a group of volunteers who meet with the hospital twice a month to learn more about what is happening at EBCH and work on small fundraising and other volunteer projects.
“When Sandy started on the committee, she was instrumental in introducing us to the blessings backpack concept to help us with a way to provide support to individuals who may be homeless, housing insecure, or lack belongings,” said Jodi Martin, the marketing and communications team leader for the hospital. “The backpacks can be given out at the staff’s discretion and contain every day, basic-needs items such as soap, shampoo, oral hygiene kits, toilet paper, and socks. Sandy raised all the money through donations from family and friends to support the project financially. She also created a resource guide that could be included in the bags.”
The Minnesota Hospital Association recognized her efforts at its award luncheon on Sept. 19 during the association’s 2024 annual meeting in Brainerd. Nickolson was unable to be present at the awards ceremony so the hospital accepted that award on her behalf.
The association honored 39 individuals and hospital teams at the meeting. Nickolson was one of four volunteers in the state honored with the Volunteer of the Year award.
“There is amazing work being done every day”, said Dr. Rahul Koranne, president and CEO of MHA. “It is incredibly important to honor the teams and individuals doing this work.”