Many volunteers give of their time and energy for patients and staff at Skaggs Regional Medical Center. The giving spirit of Skaggs Volunteers is not confined to the walls of the hospital, so the group decided to continue their giving spirit at its annual Christmas party.

In years past Skaggs Volunteers have given each other gifts as a token of appreciation for a job well done. This year they decided to share the spirit of giving to the younger members of the community by donating toys to Ozark Mountain Country Love, Inc. The volunteers brought nearly 300 new toys to their annual Christmas party in December. These toys were added to the annual Toys for Tots drive, a partnership of Ozark Mountain Country Love, Inc. and the department of military science at College of the Ozarks.

Skaggs Volunteer Services first began in October 27, 1949 as the Estella Skaggs Auxiliary. It served the hospital alongside the former Red Cross Volunteers, later known as the Skaggs Volunteers. In 2008, the auxiliary and volunteers joined forces to create what is now known as Skaggs Regional Medical Center Volunteers.

There are more than 300 Skaggs Volunteers serving in many areas: hospital, hospice, Mended Hearts and chaplaincy, Forget-Me-Not Gift Shop and Pink Door thrift shop. For more details on becoming a Skaggs Volunteer visit www.skaggs.net/volunteer or call (417) 335-7114.

Photo left to right: Dick Jack, Volunteer Board Member; Cally Ross, Ozark Mountain Country Love, Inc. Office Manager and Jim Friesz, Volunteer Board Member