By Winnie Bolton
July 1990 Tom and I moved from Paradise Valley, Ariz., into another “here after” called Mt. Angel, Ore., through the prompting and encouragement of Fr. Bernard, a monk of the Mt. Angel Abbey, who now has recently passed. We settled in, met town folk and within six months I joined the Silverton Hospital Auxiliary, much to my delight.
This August the auxiliary celebrated its 50th anniversary. It’s an incredible origination committed to compassionate care for the many communities it serves.
Its main function is assisting in fundraising projects for equipment, improvements of numerous kinds, but it is much more than a fundraising organization!
When a person’s listening skills, patience and precious time is freely given to those in need, happiness unveils itself for all concerned. That’s my definition of an auxiliary member.
We’ll begin with the auxiliary members’ contacting our local and surrounding schools to offer a “poison-prevention puppet program” since 1991. It educates kindergartners, first and second graders, informing them about what can be found in bathroom cabinets, kitchen closets, garages and outside gardens that are potential poisons is the goal of this serious subject acted whimsically by auxiliary members and created by an auxiliary member. Preceding the fun skit is a guided tour through hospital departments of interest to these youngsters, with cookies and juice served at the finish while listening to a policeman or fireman’s talk on the 9-1-1 calls to save lives. It’s a fantastic free school outing.
Another outreach program is the Blood Drive done in conjunction with the American Red Cross every other month. Auxiliary members place phone calls registering donors, checking time schedules, baking cookies, serving drinks. As many as 70 pints of blood have been collected in one day, in the program that has been continuing for the past 40 years.
The hospital’s Care Van services operated by volunteer drivers take people to and from doctor’s appointments, to the foot clinic to the steps program which is an outpatient care center that tends to wounds, IV therapy, vaccines, etc.) The auxiliary members beforehand schedule these appointments with the correct addresses, pick up times etc – a tight-knit, hand-in-glove operation. It’s an all free pick up service, though donations are freely accepted. What a gift to those who have no transportation or are in a wheelchair.
Then there’s the scholarship committee in existence since 1961, which decides on requests and amounts of assistance to needy applicants applying to the medical field.
Funds are raised from specific donations, a yearly tea fund drive and the Farmers’ Market bake sale. Think of the students in our local communities who have been financially assisted and in turn brought their nursing and medical skills to our community. It’s another win-win situation successfully fulfilling by the generous hearts of auxiliary members.
There are about 300 volunteers and auxiliary members, of whom almost 200 are active. From the Ping Pong Ball Float during Homer Davenport Days over $3,000 was raised with tickets selling for $2 and from the yearly Christmas Dance Gala there’s an average of $6,000 brought in. But the large amounts of money raised are from the Espresso Bar and Gift Shop within the hospital, which is manned totally by auxilians.
If you want a great mocha or latte with a shot of Irish cream, amaretto or Kailua come visit us. Our Italian cream sodas are terrific with lime, blueberry or cherry syrups added (other choices too and all at lower prices than Starbucks.) Browse around our very reasonable gift shop where there are surprising discounts at times when you’re shopping for a birthday, wedding or get well gift of flowers, etc.
Or even better still; come join our auxiliary to put a little fun in your life. We could stuff and sew cough pillows together for patients’ post operations!
