April is National Volunteer Month The Hendersons: A Family Tradition of Volunteering

April is National Volunteer Month

The Hendersons: A Family Tradition of Volunteering

After touting the benefits of volunteering for years, it was easy for Carlene Henderson of Ashland to convince her husband and son to follow her lead. Now, all three – including Jerry Sr. and Jerry Jr. – lend their time to helping others at UK King’s Daughters.

As the medical center’s longest-serving actively involved volunteer, Carlene was a mainstay as a greeter in Same-Day Surgery for decades until the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on things. She got her start in 1986, after raising four children and spending 10 years volunteering with Meals on Wheels.

Jerry Sr. followed in 1996 once he retired from Ashland Oil, and Jerry Jr., who resides in Flatwoods, Ky., began in 2025 after retiring as a public defender for Cabell County, W.Va. That’s a combined total of 80 years of volunteering – and the trio is still going strong.

“It’s the best decision I ever made,” Jerry Sr. said. “All the credit goes to Carlene.”

In addition to their volunteer duties, both Carlene and Jerry have been a member of the UK King’s Daughters Auxiliary, serving on the board of directors and assisting with community activities and fundraisers to support patient care. Jerry Sr. has been elected to multiple leadership positions in the auxiliary.

Now, at 91, Carlene pitches in for special volunteer events and has no plans of giving up her duties anytime soon.

“I’m a people person and I’ve enjoyed getting to know the patients, the staff and other volunteers,” Carlene said. “I love being a volunteer and I love this hospital.”

Jerry Sr. also considers himself a people person. He looks forward to chatting with patients and visitors as he escorts them from the Lexington Avenue waiting area to their destinations. After missing a few months due to health issues, he’s glad to be back at his post.

“People come in this big hospital a bit overwhelmed, especially if they haven’t been here before,” Jerry Sr. said. “I try to give them a smile, make a little joke. I think that really helps. You can see them relax.”

Jerry Jr., 68, echoed his father’s sentiments about volunteering, adding that he missed interacting with people after retiring.

“It wasn’t unusual for me to talk to 40 or 50 people a day when I worked,” Jerry Jr. said. “Then suddenly it was like a light switch. I wasn’t talking to people. Volunteering filled that void. It helps both mentally and physically.”

Also, one of the best parts of volunteering for Jerry Jr. is that he gets to spend time with his dad every Tuesday.

“All these years I heard from my parents how great it is to volunteer, and they were right,” Jerry Jr. said. “It’s so rewarding to walk and talk with people from all over. I tell them I know from experience they are in good hands.”

Jerry Jr. is especially proud of his parents’ dedication and strong sense of community. He knows he has the gold standard to follow – Carlene was named the first recipient of the Neill Sutphin Volunteer Excellence Award, which recognizes UK King’s Daughters volunteers who have dedicated a significant number of years and hours of service to the medical center. Jerry Sr. was the second.

Jerry Jr. hopes he has instilled the value of caring in his own daughters.

“I just want to give back to the community that has done so much for me,” Jerry Jr. noted.

The Hendersons agreed that serving patients is their priority. “Any day that we can help patients and show them the hospital truly cares about them, is a good day,” Jerry Jr. added.

  Considering volunteering? There are openings in several areas. Please note potential volunteers must complete an application and a background check, as well as receive medical clearance from a healthcare provider.

For more information, contactAmie Schwendeman, manager of Volunteer ServicesE-mail: amie.schwendeman@uky.eduCall: 606.408.0959