Skillings pour hearts into volunteering

David and Peg Skilling saw first hand the role volunteers played in medical facilities when David experienced major health issues in 2010. The Skillings have since given their time to serve as volunteers at Kossuth Regional Health Center and Clinic mostly with the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP).

The Skillings are the 2021 recipients of the Advance Award Volunteers of the Year.

In addition to the local honor, the Skillings of Algona were both honored this summer with the Governor's Volunteer Award. David was recognized for 10 years as a counselor with SHIPP while Peg received recognition for five years as a counselor with SHIPP.

"In 2010 David experienced major health issues and we spent a considerable amount of time receiving medical treatment at medical facilities in Sioux City, Algona (KRHC), and the Mayo Clinic. We observed the important role that volunteers played at each of these facilities and the assistance that they provided to us and others," said Peg.

"As David's health improved and stabilized, we made the decision to offer our time and effort as volunteers. KRHC has been a perfect fit for us. We both started as volunteers at the hospital and clinic."

David offered to fill a counselor vacancy in the SHIIP office. Peg was trained to be a SHIIP counselor after another counselor was needed because of the increase in clients. They also do work for the Senior Medical Patrol (SMP) which is connected with SHIIP and monitors for fraud and abuse in Medicare.

The Skillings both agree the most fulfilling part of volunteering is assisting Medicare eligible individuals navigate the Medicare system. They like to work hard to help people find the best options for their individual situations.

"It is very rewarding when we can ensure that our clients receive the best Medicare insurance coverage available to them at the most reasonable cost and not have them paying additional amounts for coverage because they are uninformed regarding the choices they have," said David.

The couple has also volunteered to transport laboratory items from KRHC to other health facilities and volunteered at the COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

Skillings credit many others While the Skillings are honored to receive the Advance Award, they said they are definitely not alone in providing SHIIP services/contacts to more than 700 Medicare recipients each year in Kossuth and surrounding counties.

"We need to thank the Kossuth Regional Health Center and its board of directors for serving as our SHIIP sponsor site for the past 15 years. Special thanks to Dar Elbert, Jen Malooley, and past administrators for their "in house" support. In addition, we could not have maintained or expanded the contacts and services that SHIIP provides without our additional counselors: Trish Casey (three years), Julie Mertz (this year) and our additional SHIIP volunteers Gene Miller (managing phone appointments and the calendar) and Carol Baas (managing client files)," said Peg.

The Skillings are both Kossuth County natives and lifelong Algona residents.

David is a graduate of Bishop Garrigan High School, Minnesota State University, Mankato and Oklahoma City University.

A retired attorney, he had a private practice and also had served as Kossuth County Attorney and Assistant Woodbury County Attorney. Peg is a graduate of Algona High School and Buena Vista University. She retired after more than 30 years as a school teacher. Their son, Matthew, works and resides in Wiesbaden, Germany.

The couple are active members of the First Presbyterian Church of Algona and the hospital auxiliary.

Their additional volunteer work includes delivering Meals on Wheels, presenting Welcome to Medicare presentations (sponsored by KRHC and RSVP).

Both are also members of the planning team for Kossuth County Emergency Management. Peg has volunteered to provide hospital tours for first graders in Kossuth County.

David serves on the Algona Public Library Board and is member of the advisory board of North Central Iowa Legal Aid. He also serves as a consulting attorney in Iowa Legal Aid's Family Law Self Help Clinic.