CMH Auxiliary

Officers

Susan Stradling-Barrett, President
Colleen Bogan, Vice President
Sue Bice, Secretary
Leslie Lollman, Treasurer

Directors

Susan Beattie, Hamilton
Alice Lahue Davis, Hamilton
Carolyn Dearnaley, Hamilton
Kathy Felton, Hamilton
Susie Gustafson, Hamilton
Kathy Haire, Hamilton
Denise Hummer, Hamilton
Joan Keefe, Earlville
Betty Knapp, Hamilton
Daniel Koehl, Morrisville
Gloria Lenhart, Hamilton
Marilyn Poupore, Hamilton

As a support system represented by volunteers from all neighboring communities, the Auxiliary’s goal is to provide additional value to the healthcare services and mission statement of Community Memorial Hospital.

Whether it’s providing a Boo-Boo Bear for a child requiring hospital services, having an ample supply of magazines and books to help a patient pass the time, keeping the vending machines fully stocked so visitors can find refreshments, providing reception desk assistance, the Auxiliary volunteers take it upon themselves to ensure the extras are available.

The Auxiliary was founded in 1951, with Lois Lee Clark of Hamilton being the first president. Her term was followed by Ruth Bash and Jean Thurner, also of Hamilton and Ruth Matthias of Morrisville. Over the past 60 years, the Auxiliary has given well over 3/4 of a million dollars to the hospital in monetary assistance. These contributions have purchased a variety of hospital accessories from x-ray equipment, washers and dryers, wheelchairs, an ice machine, and more. Recent donations have purchased furniture for new doctor's offices, updated televisions for patient rooms, and new diagnostic machines for better detection of medical problems.

One of the oldest traditions is the Auxiliary’s Membership Drive, which is now known as the Auxiliary Appeal. The organization, which was formed shortly after the hospital opened, first met at a tea where a membership fee of one dollar was collected from each attendee. For years Auxiliary fundraisers went door to door as part of the drive.

The CMH Auxiliary has also become a fixture of community life through annual events it sponsors. The annual Holiday Sale, an annual Easter Eggstravaganza, a handmade quilt raffle, a spring volunteer recognition luncheon to honor all who donate their time and expertise to Community Memorial, and hosting welcoming receptions for new physicians to enable them to meet community members in an informal setting are just a few of the events the Auxiliary volunteers are dedicated to.

The Holiday Sale (the first Saturday of the month in the First Baptist Church) features handcrafts and artworks and has become a holiday season tradition. What started as a sale of a few crafts and canned jams and pickles, first held in one room, then later in the lobby of the Colgate Inn, is now held on the entire lowel level of the First Baptist Church. This sale, the Auxiliary's biggest fundraiser, has come a long way, due to hard working and dedicated people donating their wares to benefit the sale. The proceeds of this sale provides tremendous support to the Auxiliary’s efforts in meeting it's goals.