Community Memorial Healthcenter Auxiliary (CMHA) recently held their annual awards banquet. Following the banquet, new officers were installed and members were awarded pins and certificates for their number of hours of service to the Healthcenter.

Anyone at Community Memorial Healthcenter (CMH) can tell you that the Auxiliary is a driving force within the organization.  The CMH Auxiliary has been operating within the Hospital for over 55 years.  During this time, the Auxiliary has played a very important role, working thousands of volunteer hours and donating monetary gifts to aid in the purchase of new equipment, building renovations and expansions, and providing scholarships for qualified students pursuing an education in the healthcare field.

Today, the CMH Auxiliary is comprised of 180 caring volunteers, men and women, who devote their time and energy providing service and support to CMH’s patients, visitors and staff.  The primary goals of the Auxiliary continue to be service, fund-raising and education to benefit patients, their families and our community. 

CMH Auxilians give their time and support through patient-related services, clerical duties and fundraising projects. Annual fund-raising events held throughout the year include jewelry, uniform, and book sales, Valentine balloon sales and many more. The primary source of funds comes from the day-to-day operations of the “Fish Bowl”, CMH’s gift shop. During the 2009-2010 year, members of CMHA donated 31,784 volunteer hours to CMH. 

To date, the CMHA is the largest contributor to CMH having exceeded 1 million dollars in donations to the hospital. The CMH Auxiliary was the very first to become Diamond members of CMH Foundation’s Cornerstone Society which recognizes donors who support CMH with gifts of $10,000 or more.  The Diamond level is achieved with gifts of $100,000 or more. This year, the CMHA presented CMH President/CEO Scott Burnette with a check for $35,000, which is the projected cost of several different projects the money will support.

CMH’s W.S. Hundley Extended Care Facility will receive $20,000 for landscaping around the non-smoking patio and $8,000 to provide the residents with indoor aviaries. The front lobby will receive $7,000 to purchase seven new wheelchairs for patient use. Smaller projects include $298.63 for a comfort cart and $184.14 for six memory boxes.

The CMHA had previously donated $83,000 to CMH’s Building Fund for a large restructuring project in the hospital; however, with the economic downturn and uncertainties in healthcare reform, this CMH building project has been placed on hold. The $83,000 was redirected to be used towards the purchase of a patient assistance van for the residents of the W.S. Hundley Extended Care Facility.

Community Memorial Healthcenter is fortunate to have the support of such a caring and giving group of individuals.  The service and dedication of these volunteers contributes to the overall efficiency of the hospital and helps to create a warm and compassionate environment at CMH.  If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Community Memorial Healthcenter Auxiliary, visit www.cmh-sh.org or pick up an application from the Information Desk located in the front lobby of CMH.

Photo Caption:

CMH Auxiliary Officers for 2010/2011 – Judy Goff, Recording Secretary; Anne Cole, Treasurer; Sandra Gainer, Corresponding Secretary; Charlotte Clark, Second Vice President; Norm Talley, First Vice President; Emily Brooks, President; Marcella Wright, Immediate Past President/Parliamentarian.