ASHLAND, Ky. — Since 1998, Army veteran Leon Dalton has volunteered at Community Hospice, as well as several nursing home locations throughout the Tri-State.

Recently, Dalton was recognized as Volunteer of the Year in Columbus at the annual meeting of the Midwest Care Alliance, a trade organization that supports more than 100 hospice, home and palliative programs across Ohio.

“Whenever I have a need for service in my life or in my family’s life, I would hope someone would be there as a volunteer,” Dalton said of why he volunteers. “It’s humbling to be chosen.”

Dalton is a volunteer chaplain at Community Hospice and has made 11,354 visits to 3,137 patients, donating more than 6,615 hours.

“He’s a great volunteer and does just about everything we ask him to do,” LuAnn Vance, director of volunteers at Community Hospice, said.

Dalton is also part of Camp Nabe, Community Hospice’s children’s bereavement program and an active participant in the Community Hospice “We Honor Veterans” program.

Community Hospice is a non-profit organization that was started in 1979 and serves more than 1,000 patients annually in Lawrence and Scioto counties in Ohio as well as Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Lawrence, Elliott, Johnson and Martin Counties in Kentucky.

Dalton, along with his wife, Linda, who is also a Community Hospice volunteer, resides in Pedro.