This year marks a significant milestone: 70 years of volunteer service at Centra. While hospitals are not typically places people choose to spend their free time, Centra’s volunteers are a powerful exception. They do far more than guide visitors through hallways. They offer comfort, compassion and steady support to patients and families during some of life’s most difficult moments.
As we celebrate seven decades of service, we honor the people whose generosity has shaped the experience of care across our facilities. Their stories reflect the lasting impact of volunteerism at Centra.
A Legacy of Service
Centra’s volunteer program began in 1956, when women representing churches across Lynchburg came together to form the Women’s Auxiliary for Virginia Baptist Hospital. Affiliated with the American Hospital Association, this group helped strengthen patient care while also connecting the hospital more deeply with the community.
Membership was initially open to “church women,” who became affectionately known as the “Pink Ladies.” In 1973, the auxiliary welcomed its first male member, expanding the group and introducing the “Red Coats.”
With the founding of Centra Health in 1987, the auxiliaries of Virginia Baptist Hospital and Lynchburg General Hospital joined together, creating a unified volunteer force that continues to serve today.
A Measured and Meaningful Impact
The impact of Centra’s volunteers is both measurable and deeply personal. In 2025 alone, volunteers at LGH and VBH contributed more than 72,000 hours of service, which is equivalent to nearly $2.5 million in value.
These hours represent thousands of meaningful interactions, including:
- Answering phones and greeting visitors
- Delivering items across facilities
- Supporting patients and families in waiting areas
- Crafting baby blankets and holiday stockings
- Assisting with patient discharges
Beyond the numbers, their dedication was recently recognized by the Lynchburg Masonic Lodge, which honored Centra volunteers with a Community Service Award.
A Volunteer Love Story
For some, volunteering at Centra becomes a lifelong journey filled with purpose, connection and even unexpected beginnings.
Bonnie Boyles began volunteering in 1966 at just 17 years old as a Candy Striper. After two years, she transitioned into a career at Centra as a dietitian technician. Following a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, Bonnie stepped away from her professional role and returned to where it all began: volunteering.
Her service grew far beyond the hospital. She became president of LGH Volunteer Services and later served in leadership roles at both the state and national levels, including chairing the National Committee of Volunteers.
It was also through her volunteer work that Bonnie met her husband, John, a hospital chaplain. They first met on December 30, 1994, while discussing their New Year’s Eve plans. After realizing they both had none, they decided to spend the evening together. They have been together ever since.
The couple married on April 18 in the newly completed LGH chapel, becoming the first wedding held in the space. They were surrounded by fellow volunteers with a reception in the Terrace Waiting Room. An announcement over the hospital intercom invited everyone to join the celebration and share cake, making it a true reflection of the Centra community.
Reflecting on her experience, Bonnie shared, “Never just say that you are a volunteer. The joy and humbleness of serving patients and their families in critical moments is the most meaningful work. I get paid in smiles, hugs and thank-yous.”
Meeting a Growing Need: Hospice Volunteers
While volunteer contributions span many areas, one of the greatest needs today is within Centra’s hospice programs.
Hospice volunteers play a vital role, not only through the compassion they bring but also as an essential part of the hospice care model. They provide something that cannot be measured: presence, empathy and human connection. For patients, this can mean comfort and peace. For families, it offers reassurance, relief and the knowledge that their loved one is not alone.
Whether sitting quietly at a bedside, listening to life stories or supporting daily operations, hospice volunteers bring dignity and compassion to every interaction.
A special component of this work is participation in the “We Honor Veterans” program. Through this initiative, veteran volunteers conduct pinning ceremonies that recognize the service and sacrifice of fellow veterans. These moments often create space for meaningful reflection and shared stories, fostering a deep sense of honor at the end of life and ensuring that no veteran’s service goes unrecognized.
Be Part of the Legacy
For 70 years, Centra volunteers have made a lasting difference, one interaction, one moment and one act of kindness at a time.
If you are looking for a meaningful way to give back, we invite you to join this legacy of service. Opportunities are available across our facilities, including Lynchburg General Hospital, Virginia Baptist Hospital, Bedford Memorial Hospital, Southside Community Hospital, the Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center and Centra Hospice.
Learn more and apply: https://www.centrahealth.com/about-centra/volunteer-centra
