SANDPOINT — Margo Johnson, a longtime volunteer at Bonner General Health, has been honored as the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce’s Volunteer of the Month for August.

Johnson began volunteering at the Bonner County hospital 26 years ago and has been volunteering there ever since. She is the current chair of the BGH Volunteer Council and organizes the group's team of volunteers. In the past 26 years, she has clocked in just under 11,000 hours of volunteering.

At the Aug. 8 meeting, Johnson shared her thoughts on volunteering with the 50-plus attendees of the chamber’s membership lunch meeting.  

She challenged the group to think of themselves as volunteers, noting that many of them are already doing just that — volunteering. When you help your neighbor, watch out for a child who is lost, pick up a card or small gift to give someone who is having a tough time. These are all ways we volunteer, through our gifts of time, talent, thoughtfulness, and caring, she said. 

Johnson encouraged the attendees to look for ways to volunteer. She said nothing gives you a stronger sense of purpose, and those for whom you volunteer will be forever grateful.