Barney Winger, a longtime volunteer at the Mountain Home Bargain Box, has been honored with Baxter Health’s Heroes with Halos award for his exceptional contributions to the organization and community. The award was presented by Baxter Health President and CEO Ron Peterson, Director of Volunteer Services Becky Rose, Bargain Box Coordinator Karla Tyler, and members of the Baxter Health Foundation, including Executive Director Sarah Edwards and gift officers Trisha Terry and Gianna Terry. Fellow volunteers from the Bargain Box also attended the presentation to celebrate Winger’s achievement.
According to a nomination submitted by a colleague, Winger is known for stepping up whenever help is needed. After the unexpected passing of a fellow volunteer, Winger immediately offered to take on their shift. When told he had big shoes to fill, he humbly responded, “I know.” He also took over the responsibilities of another department for a year while a volunteer was away, frequently filled in for others who were ill, and even brought electronics home to test as a colleague faced a serious health challenge.
Winger’s dedication extends beyond filling gaps. When the Bargain Box received a large donation of train sets, he identified a buyer willing to pay more than the items would have fetched in the store and assisted in packing and shipping them. He has also helped in sorting, pricing, and repairing items following donation pickups and spends time at home cleaning silver to prepare it for sale. Winger is also known among the Wednesday morning crew for bringing doughnuts each week.
His colleague affectionately described Winger as a unique presence, writing, “Barney, aka ‘Grumpy,’ is unmanageable. He does it his way.” Despite his playful nickname, the nomination praised Winger for being fun to work with and expressed gratitude for the many contributions he has made to the Bargain Box.
The Heroes with Halos program recognizes Baxter Health employees, volunteers, providers, and departments who go above and beyond in their roles. More information about the program, including how to submit a nomination, is available at www.baxterhealth.org/heroes.