Celebrating Juanita White’s 10 Years of Volunteer Service
Juanita was proud to serve her community through the BCMH Auxiliary. She is pictured here with the photos, recognition certificates and newspaper clippings she kept over the years.
Juanita White with fellow volunteer Kelly Stark
Bates County Memorial Hospital is proud to recognize Juanita White as she retires after more than 10 years of dedicated volunteer service through the BCMH Auxiliary. Juanita dedicated 2,600 hours to serving BCMH as a volunteer. She will be recognized for her service at the Auxiliary Recognition Banquet on April 30.
In recent years, you could find Juanita in the gift shop, cheerfully ready to help, and at times wearing one of her many lovely hats. She was dependable and often volunteered for extra shifts, generously helping whenever needed.
Juanita kept clippings and certificates from her volunteer years spanning back to 2013, reflecting how much her service meant to her. She is proud of what she was able to contribute, and she was pleased to be part of the world of healthcare in her volunteer role. She said that was shaped by earlier experiences in her life, starting as a “Pink Girl” at the age of 15 at her local hospital near Winfield, Kansas, where Juanita grew up, and for a short time, as a certified nurse at the hospital in Warrensburg while her husband was stationed there.
She and her husband, Joe, raised four children and made their home in Butler beginning in 1972. Some time after her husband passed in 2005, Juanita was invited to volunteer at Bates County Memorial Hospital, and she was happy to accept. Her generosity of spirit extended to other community efforts, including volunteering for the local thrift store.
Asking Juanita how she felt about her time volunteering, she said, “Beautiful. It feels good when you know you’re wanted. I loved it.”
Last year, Juanita stepped back from volunteer service. She liked the work, and she did not want to retire, but health issues kept her from being able to drive.
Though we miss seeing Juanita’s cheerful smile and signature hats in our halls, we are deeply grateful for the kindness and dedication she shared with our patients, staff, and visitors. We wish her all the best.
