Motivational speaker and first vice president of financial services for The Heritage Bank, Derek Sills told more than 300 Winn Army Community Hospital volunteers Monday they are “above average” because they choose to give their time to others, a rare trait in today’s fast-paced society.

“You can never stand taller than when you stoop to help someone,” Sills said. He added volunteers are generous people, who teach the next generation how to act unselfishly.

Red Cross volunteers, retirees and military spouses, active duty soldiers, DENTAC personnel, area veterans and high school students were recognized for their volunteer service at Winn’s 12th annual volunteer awards ceremony early this week.

Winn Army Community Hospital commander Col. Paul Cordts said when he came to Fort Stewart two years ago he met with Congressman Jack Kingston.

“All Rep. Kingston wanted to talk about was our volunteer program at Winn,” Cordts said. The commander offered some quotes in praise of volunteerism, telling hospital volunteers they “take the loneliness out of being alone.”

Winn volunteers logged more than 17,000 hours of service this year, director of volunteer services Brigitte Cabeza-Shanken said. Cabeza-Shanken said this amount of unpaid hours translates into about $300,000 in savings for the hospital.

For more, pick up a copy of the April 16 edition of the News.