Auxiliary and Volunteers Lend a Helping Hand at Wooster Community Hospital
By Lisa Amstutz
March 25, 2013
335
From the moment a patient or visitor pulls up to the door at Wooster Community Hospital, the Auxiliary works hard to make their experience as welcoming as possible. Through their fundraising and volunteer efforts, the organization provides many extra touches that enhance each patients experience at the hospital.
The hospital Auxiliary is such an important part of providing care to our patients, said Hospital CEO Bill Sheron. Whether through volunteers providing thousands of hours of service every year, or through funding the valet parking service, purchasing needed equipment for patient care areas, or purchasing a minivan for the transportation service, the Auxiliary is an important and valued part of the Wooster Community Hospital organization, and we are grateful for all that they do.
The Auxiliary raises $100,000 to $150,000 per year for WCH. The Auxiliarys goal is to help and aid the hospital in whatever way we can, said Volunteer Coordinator Carla Redick. We are always looking at ways to grow and raise more funds for the hospital.
Throughout the year, the group runs sales of Valentines Day roses, books, uniforms and spring plants, and the Tree of Love program. Proceeds from their annual golf scramble provide over 250 free mammograms per year to qualifying Wayne County residents. In addition to these special events, the Auxiliary staffs the hospitals coffee and gift shops and donates the proceeds to the hospital.
Another long-running Auxiliary program is the Medical Alert service. Transmitters worn around the neck or on a belt allow subscribers to call for help when needed. Probably 90% of the calls are from someone who has fallen and cant get back up, said Redick. We make sure help is dispatched immediately.
Not only do the Medical Alert pendants provide peace of mind for participants and their family members, but proceeds from the program fund the hospitals free valet service. They park 25-30 cars per day for people who cant walk or would rather not walk to their cars, especially when the weather is bad, said Auxiliary President Elizabeth McDaniel. People are so grateful for that service.
The Auxiliary also helps to purchase wheelchairs, vans for the transportation program and other extras such as waiting room furniture. They offer college scholarships and a Women of Achievement Award.
Besides their financial contributions to the hospital, Auxiliary members, along with Junior Partners (ages 14-18) and Medic Aides (college students), contribute about 32,000 hours of service annually. Some offer pet therapy to patients, while others maintain the GreenPoint garden, which provides fresh produce in season for hospital meals. A sewing group makes the patient gowns, wheelchair bags and the chemo scarves sold in the gift shop.
Still other volunteers serve as prayer partners for patients who have chosen to be on the prayer list, work in an office or the gift shop, or serve as greeters. They may visit or read to patients, or take blankets and ice water around. We try to help out wherever the hospital asks us to, said Redick.
Redick works hard to match volunteers interests and personalities with the right job for them. When I interview volunteers, I ask what they want to get out of the experience, she said. Most of our volunteers stay for years – they find it very rewarding.
Volunteers can come in every day of the week or just once a month, Redick noted. Were happy with whatever time people can give, even if its just an hourthats enough to check batteries in our Medical Alert units, for example.
Theres a place for everybody, whatever their talent, McDaniel said. Its a very rewarding program if you are a caring person with some time on your hands. And you meet a wonderful group of people!
For more information on the WCH Auxiliary, call 330-263-8299 or visit www.woosterhospital.org.
