Ballad Health honors a select group of team members each year with the Scott and Nikki Niswonger Servant’s Heart Award, the organization’s highest honor. These recipients have been recognized by their peers for displaying the heart of a servant by going above and beyond the normal call of duty in helping others at work and in the community. Ballad Health has been featuring the 2024 Servant’s Heart Award winners through videos, stories and photos — and our nomination process for the 2025 awards remains open through Dec. 31, 2024.
Tina Gay, a mother of nine with 32 grandchildren, still finds time to volunteer at not one, but two hospitals. She volunteers Tuesdays in Holston Valley Medical Center’s surgery waiting area and Thursdays and Fridays in Indian Path Community Hospital’s gift shop.
Tina has been volunteering since 2018, and she is the only volunteer who serves at both hospitals.
She always greets patients, family members, caregivers and team members with a friendly, caring attitude.
Tina eagerly jumps in and helps out wherever she’s needed. When the “hospitality cart” program began rolling out, Tina began making “blessing kits” containing toothpaste, toothbrushes, wash cloths and soap, paying for them with her own funds. The kits were given to patients and family members who are experiencing an extended hospital stay.
When the “clothes closets” were established at Indian Path and Holston Valley, Tina began collecting clothes to stock them.
After undergoing knee surgery, Tina couldn’t perform her usual volunteer work for a few weeks, but she didn’t let that stop her. During her down time, she made pediatric “activity kits,” containing coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, note pads and stickers for patients in the pediatric emergency department at Indian Path, once again funding them at her own expense.
Tina also volunteers at Bays Mountain Park and two local churches, and she sings in the choir.
Tina is loved by all for her wonderful attitude and greatly admired for her selfless work and team spirit.
Nominate someone for 2025!
Do you know someone who has the heart of a servant and deserves recognition for their great work? If so, nominate them for the 2025 Servant’s Heart Award through the nomination form that is now open through Tuesday, Dec. 31!
Click here to access the 2025 nomination form.
Check out our other 2024 winners
