Bates County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) is proud to honor Kathleen Bunch for her 17 years of dedicated volunteer service with the BCMH Auxiliary. Kathleen retired after contributing more than 4,870 hours of service to the hospital, working at both the information desk and the gift shop. Her commitment and hard work were truly invaluable to the Auxiliary and the hospital.
During her time as a volunteer, Kathleen also served in various leadership roles, most recently as the Treasurer of the General Fund on the Auxiliary Executive Committee.
Kathleen's background as an accountant and her experience managing a print shop in the Kansas City area were vital assets in her volunteer work. She also has a long history of community service, having served as a Campfire volunteer and leader during her daughter’s youth, eventually becoming the Regional Director for the Kansas City, Mo., Area Council of Campfire Girls (now Campfire, Inc.).
Kathleen and her husband, Ted, moved to Butler in 2001 after retiring. They became active members of Butler First Christian Church, where Kathleen later served as an elder. She firmly believes in the power of community involvement as a way to make new connections and friends, which is what initially inspired her to volunteer at BCMH.
Reflecting on her volunteer work, Kathleen shares, “You make a lot of new friends. When I first moved here, the only people I knew were from church. Through volunteering at the hospital, I met people from all over the county. That’s how I met Dee.”
Dee Hall, a fellow volunteer, introduced Kathleen to the Sonshine Ladies, a sewing circle that creates handmade items for BCMH patients, local nursing homes, hospice, and individuals in need. One year, the group created an incredible 1,500 items. Kathleen continues to be an active member of the group, which still meets every Friday morning. The volunteers also enjoy playing dominoes and sharing lunch on Wednesdays.
Kathleen says, “I’ve enjoyed working at the hospital. It gave me a chance to be out with the public and to meet people. When I became vice president of the Auxiliary, I had the opportunity to attend conferences and meet other women, and it made me appreciate the close-knit community we have here.”
The employees, staff, and board of directors at BCMH extend their deepest gratitude to Kathleen for her 17 years of selfless service to both the hospital and the community. Her dedication and kindness will always be remembered.
