Issue 6 - InVironments Magazine

Business
The gift shop coordinates the annual
hospital bazaar, scheduled for October
21 this year. The Auxiliary holds a
bake sale with coffee hour, and a
large variety of gifts for Christmas
including some handmade items at
the First Presbyterian Church. In the
spring, the shop also oversees the
annual garage sale which sells items
donated by auxiliary members, hospital
employees, and community patrons.
Chris said, “The gift shop is staffed
entirely by volunteers, including
the manager, so all the money
raised by the gift shop goes back
to projects within the hospital.”
In addition to the gift shop, the
Auxiliary oversees the Memorial Fund
which includes family memorials and
other earmarked donations to the
hospital. Money from the Memorial
Fund was recently used to renovate
the lab. Through the years, Auxiliary
funds have contributed to a long list
of hospital needs. Some of the more
recent purchases include: recliners for
the new Infusion Room, a new picnic
table for the front entrance, and other
needed equipment. The Auxiliary is
currently paying for the renovation
of the Meditation Room, adding new
furniture, drapes, and paint. “We want
to make it a more peaceful area,” said
Memorial Fund Chair Sue Felker.
Names of donors are engraved on the
“Tree of Life,” located across the hall from
the elevators. This beautiful sculpture
boasts a leaf for each $1,000 donation,
small stones for $2,500 donations and
large stones for $5,000 donations.
Annually, the Auxiliary grants six $1,000
scholarships to students entering the
health profession from their fundraising
efforts. The estate of Ward A. and Mabel
T. Miller funds one of the scholarships
as does the Marie Hayes Kelley Nursing
Award, donated by the Kelley Trust
Fund from St. Patrick’s Church.
Through its fundraisers, the Auxiliary has
made major contributions to the hospital.
“We gave $75,000 to the capital campaign
for the emergency room renovation,”
Carol Elliott said. Geneva laughed,
“When they said $75,000, our jaws
dropped to the ground but we did it.”
All monies the Auxiliary raises are given
back to the hospital to provide the best in
patient care. The Auxiliary has purchased
televisions for patient rooms, bought
patient beds, an ophthalmology chair for
surgery, and a refrigerator for the kitchen.
The Auxiliary was also instrumental
in the refurbishment of the old wing of
the hospital when the new wing was
added, according to Sue Armstrong.
Auxiliary volunteers spend more
than 3,000 hours a year working for
the betterment of the hospital. The
volunteers are treated to a volunteer
appreciation brunch given by the
hospital administration each year as
well as an annual Christmas Tea.
On a statewide level, the RCH Auxiliary
was the recipient of the coveted “Hospital
Constituency Health Care Advocacy
Award” in the past fiscal year. This
Auxiliary was one of 27 auxiliaries in the
State of Illinois to receive the award.
Chris said, “We have a good
working relationship between the
auxiliary and the hospital staff.” The
Auxiliary has a hospital liaison,
who works with the volunteers.
One thing the volunteers all have in
common is respect for the hospital.
Many volunteers are former hospital
employees. “I worked here as a nurse.
This is a way I can stay involved
with the hospital,” Geneva said.
“We are very lucky to have this hospital. I
worked here for 12 years and I have a love
for it. This community is very fortunate
to have the hospital,” Sue Felker said.
Chris added, “It’s rewarding to
see what we’ve contributed to
such a worthy organization. You
get back more than you give.”
It’s that generosity of spirit that
makes the Rochelle Community
Hospital Auxiliary such a vital part
of the Rochelle community.
Gift Shop hourS:
Mon-Wed-thu 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
tue & fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sat 9 a.m.-12 noon
upcoming Events:
Saturday, October 1 – GermanFest at
Rochelle Country Club, 6:00 p.m.
Friday, October 21 – Holiday Bazaar
and Bake Sale at First Presbyterian
Church, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
56 Rochelle InVironments Magazine • August-September 2011
Where life happens. 57
Left to right:
Sue Felker,
Jeanne May,
Carol Elliott,
Chris Willis, and
Geneva Brune