Dear Editor,
One thing that impresses me about Watonga is the extent of volunteer support. From groups that support Watonga School activities, county fair, cheese festival, Liberty Theater and various clubs, many people volunteer their time, money and talents to make Watonga a great community.
One group from which all benefit is the Hospital Auxiliary. Since its beginning in 1963, the Auxiliary has benefitted the hospital in many ways. In addition to the biannual blood drives and bake sales (kindly hosted by Cornerstone Bank), many citizens look forward to the once per month hamburger meal.
On an average day, over 135 hamburger meals are sold, and many are delivered by four volunteer drivers who return the $5/meal proceeds from grateful recipients of their burger, fries, pickle, brownie and drink.
Nearly every department in the hospital has benefitted from recent purchases and improvements donated by the Auxiliary. The 16-member auxiliary group point out the new refrigerator and refrigerated salad bar in the dining room, two freezers and a deep fat fryer in the kitchen, ice machine, and dietary instruction kit. The lab received a refrigerator for chemistry reagents and a new chair for blood collection. The Auxiliary recently purchased an expensive gurney for the ER and security camera system for the pharmacy and medication preparation rooms. Radiology received equipment to improve chest X-rays, and a transport chair. Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy gained approximately $6000 in diagnostic, therapy and educational equipment, including items for children, in addition to a new exercise treadmill. The Auxiliary paid for remodeling of the bathroom in patient room 122, and the hospital entrance. Nursing services received a stretcher, ice machine and bedside tables. Since this is all done without fanfare or even a label on the equipment denoting its volunteer source, one marvels at this selfless, humble volunteer service.
So highly prized is the volunteer work of the Auxiliary that Mercy Hospital has asked the Auxiliary provide support for the Hospital Foundation’s monthly brisket sale. The Auxiliary derives no payment for this service, though many hours of service to help cook, sell, deliver and clean up are provided by the Auxiliary.
We all salute and thank the hospital Auxiliary. For more info, contact Esther Arnold, 580-623-2415.
Joe P. Bryan, MD Watonga