SYLVANIA - Jerry Hunter, who is a dedicated volunteer for Syl-view Nursing Home, spends most of everyday at work, said Betty Scarborough, activities director at the Sylvania nursing home.
      The Masters Club, a Christian men's service group where Hunter is a member, won Group Volunteers of the Year for Georgia Health Care for 2010. They were recently honored at the activity directors' convention in Savannah, she said.
      Along with his volunteer work, Hunter spent 33 years working for Sylvania Yarn Systems, his wife, Barbara Hunter said.
      When he retired several years ago, he was able to dedicate more time to his volunteer work, she said.
Barbara Hunter, who works in the dietary department at Screven County Hospital, is also a volunteer.
      Her husband, Jerry, has served lunch and dinner to residents at Syl-view for more than 15 years, said Scarborough.
      "He is always seeking to find volunteers and to help promote support for Syl-view," she said.
      The Masters Club serves the entire community of Sylvania and Screven County, Scarborough said.
       One of the big events the club organizes for Syl-view, she said, is an annual Martin Luther King celebration, where residents take part, and a dinner is served for the residents and the staff.
      They also meet the needs of others in the community when the occasion arises, such as providing school supplies to needy children, Barbara said.
      Hunter is a member of Greater Bethel AME Church in Sylvania, where he teaches Sunday school and serves as president of the church's division of Sons of Allen, a group that goes out and ministers to the community, said Barbara.
      He volunteers at Sylvania's Soup Kitchen, sponsors a child as part of Screven's Parent University, and speaks at churches to promote Syl-view activities, she said.
      He is also part of a community food ministry group, she said.
      Scarborough recognizes Hunter as a major asset to Syl-view.
      Scarborough said Hunter spends most of his time serving others. He and the other members of the Masters Club could not be more deserving of the recognition they received this year as Group Volunteers of the year, said Scarborough.