Texas County Memorial Hospital formally recognized the auxiliary and chaplain volunteer groups last week at a reception.
“Our volunteer groups create great synergy in the hospital,” said Wes Murray, hospital CEO. “We couldn’t do what we do without their help.”
In 2008, the hospital’s auxiliary members provided more than 3,500 hours volunteering at the hospital. In addition to assisting patients and visitors at the hospital, the TCMH Auxiliary operates a gift shop in the front lobby of the hospital. Proceeds from it are given back to the hospital.
Jay Gentry, director of the TCMH Healthcare Foundation, presented a plaque to the auxiliary in recognition of the funds they donated in 2008 to the foundation to assist in purchasing a new automatic defibrillator for the hospital’s emergency department.
“The combined efforts between the foundation and auxiliary have been very productive in benefiting our hospital,” Gentry said.
Toni McKinney, hospital registration department director and auxiliary liaison, presented “Volunteers Make a Daily Difference” pins to each auxiliary member. McKinney has been working with auxiliary members to recruit additional volunteers to the program.
“We cannot have enough volunteers,” she said.
A few members of the hospital’s Volunteer Chaplain’s Association were also present at the reception.
“Our chaplains provide 24/7 on-call coverage to our emergency department, and they regularly visit with our patients,” Murray said. “The spiritual needs of our patients are very important in the healing process.”
For additional information about the Volunteer Chaplain’s Association, which meets quarterly at the hospital, contact Angie Gimpel, TCMH social services director and liaison to the chaplain’s program, at 417-967-1274.
The TCMH Auxiliary meets at 1:30 p.m. the first Friday of every month in the downstairs meeting room of the hospital. For additional information about the program, contact McKinney at 417-967-1346.