LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro’s mass vaccination site has reached a huge milestone by saving the city more than $1 million in labor costs since its inception.

"It’s what you should do as a citizen besides wearing the mask and keeping your distance and doing all that," said volunteer and Army veteran Bob Wilkinson.

The retired oncology nurse was sure to find his own way of giving back. Volunteers like Wilkinson have devoted at least 50 hours to the LouVax site at Broadbent Arena.

"It’s a point of service and so this is my way of providing service to my fellow citizens and getting us all back to which you call maybe normal someday," Wilkinson said.

Looking into their faces, he sees their relief.

"Some of them even have been tearful after they got the shot because they’ve acknowledged what its meant to them," he added.

Wilkinson has the passion for service in his blood as he helps administer injections to thousands of Kentuckians.

"In the military, you think y’all think the combats soldiers are it, but behind them this long snake you get it done," Wilkinson said. "So it’s much bigger than that little bite. So that’s the thing here it’s the community, all the supplies, it’s the pharmacists."

Dr. SaraBeth Hartlage, associate medical director for Louisville’s Metro Public Health and Wellness, said without volunteers, the COVID- 19 points of distribution couldn’t happen.

"First of all, I think their labor is priceless. They make this show run everyday," Hartlage said.

Organizers said around 6,446 registered volunteers have contributed 42,771 volunteer hours. At $27.70 per hour, that would amount to $1,163,371.20 in savings.

From directing traffic to putting shots in arms, volunteers aiding in these efforts are invaluable.

"It’s a savings that allows us to do other projects like COVID testing and kits for people who are isolating for COVID that brings food to them and other projects across the city," Hartlage said.

As Kentucky begins the massive undertaking of administering COVID-19 vaccines to phase 1C, over 200 volunteers are utilized on a daily basis. Even those without a medical background can help.

"There’s a job for everybody for every skill set. It’s so exciting to see people jump in and give whatever they’ve got to help this effort proceed," Hartlage said.

Across the arena, Sandy Bishop said she’s excited to be apart of the solution by stepping up to administer a shot of hope. The registered nurse has recently contributed 40 hours of service.

"They’re anxious to get it and it’s just like one more, one more, one more, that you know your working towards the goal of getting many people as you can," she said.

As she continues to take her skills to the frontlines of the pandemic, Bishop is just enjoying having a front row seat making history.

"You know you’re part of history and having the nursing students here you know to say y’all are in the middle of history and in 40 years you’re going to be saying I was there," Bishop said.

For those willing to work for free, Bishop has this message: "If you can do it, you should do it."

Since Thursday, the Louisville Mass Vaccination Site at Broadbent Arena has administered more than 50,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine according to Dr. Hartlage.

Kentuckians interested in volunteering can find more information here.