Volunteer Takes Home Prestigious New Jersey Health Association Award

Christian Health (CHCC) volunteer Brittany McNaboe, 27, of Ramsey, NJ, was recently named the winner of the Health Care Association of New Jersey’s (HCANJ) 2018 Volunteer of the Year award. Ms. McNaboe has volunteered for 10 years on CHCC’s Wyckoff campus, having contributed more than 1,800 hours of her time to the betterment of CHCC’s residents and patients.

“Brittany is a lifelong resident of Ramsey and a wonderful example of what one person can do to help others,” said Ramsey Mayor Deidre Dillon. “She has a service-above-self attitude, and is driven and compassionate. It is an honor to see one of Ramsey’s own receive such an award.”

Ms. McNaboe started volunteering alongside a job coach, due to a developmental disability. For the past eight years, Brittany has been volunteering on her own. She has made significant contributions to CHCC, including the creation of a newspaper-circulation program for residents. Ms. McNaboe listened to residents who were looking for copies of their favorite local periodicals. She communicated residents’ opinions to her volunteer supervisor, and together they were able to secure newspapers from several local outlets. Brittany distributes the newspapers to residents at CHCC’s Heritage Manor Nursing Home.

Ms. McNaboe is also an active member of the Wyckoff Family YMCA, where she is a peer leader for Shining Stars, a group for adults with developmental disabilities. Having experienced the benefits of volunteering firsthand, Ms. McNaboe reached out to CHCC’s Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator, Caroline Silva, to see if they could create a program that would promote interactions between CHCC residents and the Shining Stars group.

Shining Stars have become a fixture in CHCC’s volunteer program, and bring joy to CHCC residents and staff alike during their weekly visits. Ms. McNaboe, Ms. Silva, and the Shining Stars worked together this past summer to host a Watermelon Social for CHCC’s Heritage Manor residents. It was a fun event for both Shining Stars and the CHCC residents.

“During more than a decade of volunteering at Christian Health, Brittany has had a tremendous impact. Her infectious smile is often the first thing visitors and new volunteers encounter on our campus. She has helped us develop new community partnerships and programs to benefit our residents – most of whom she greets by name. I know I speak for all of Brittany’s colleagues at CHCC – staff, fellow volunteers, residents, and families – when I say that we are extremely proud of Brittany and excited that she is being recognized by HCANJ.” said Douglas A. Struyk, CPA, LNHA, CHCC President and CEO.

Ms. McNaboe was presented with the HCANJ Volunteer of the Year Award during HCANJ’s 70th Annual Expo and Convention at Harrah’s Atlantic City Casino on October 23, 2018. A private celebration was also held at CHCC with Brittany’s family, friends, fellow volunteers, Shining Stars, and Mayor Dillon in attendance to recognize Ms. McNaboe’s accomplishments.

For more information about volunteering at CHCC, contact Ms. Silva at (201) 848-5797 or csilva@chccnj.org, or visit bit.ly/CHCCVolunteer to apply to volunteer today.