Volunteers with the Bay Area Hospital Auxiliary donate their time to make a meaningful difference in the lives of hospital patients and their families.
Auxiliary volunteers are identifiable by their bright blue jackets. They greet and assist visitors, raise funds through the gift shop, escort patients to medical appointments, deliver flowers, provide wheelchair assistance, and much more.
Representatives with the hospital auxiliary said becoming a volunteer is a terrific way to feel connected and support the health needs in the community.
“By greeting patients and their families who are visiting the hospital with a warm smile and a listening ear, we can brighten their day,” said Connie Monahan.
“Working in the hospital gift shop is a fantastic way to be involved. Also, you might aid a patient or family member who has lost their way in the hospital, or offer wheelchair transportation to their destination,” Monahan said.
The group of current Bay Area Hospital Auxiliary volunteers recently got together to take a picture. Their smiling faces filled the stairs near the hospital entrance.
The Bay Area Hospital’s liaison to the auxiliary, Lindsey Moore, was on-hand for the event.
“We have some absolutely amazing individuals that contribute to the community with every facet of their being,” she said.
“They're really serving our community in a beautiful way. Some of them are locals that have lived here all their lives, and some of them are transplants that have either background in healthcare or just a passion for serving,” Moore said.
Moore reported that auxiliary volunteers raised $24,000 in funds through the hospital gift shop. This round of funds will be used to purchase important medical equipment, including equipment for the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, she said.
“We have a really long partnership – a beautiful legacy – and it's a joy to get to work with them,” Moore said.
The long history of the auxiliary in the local community began at McAuley Hospital in downtown Coos Bay. That hospital was built in 1925 and was originally known as Wesley Methodist Hospital.
The first official auxiliary officers were installed in 1968. Auxiliary members were involved in physical acts of painting and preparing for the Bay Area Hospital, in addition to fundraising, before it opened.
They have been supporting the Bay Area Hospital for the past 50 years – the entirety of the hospitals existence.
Auxiliary representatives said they have a great group of core volunteers, but they could use some more. The number of volunteers dwindled during the pandemic and haven’t yet made a full comeback.
Volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds, ages, interests, and skills. Auxiliary volunteers are asked to donate 4 hours of their time per week.
More information about becoming a volunteer can be found on the Bay Area Hospital website: bayareahospital.org/volunteer. Those who would like to fill out an application can also email lindsay.moore@bayareahospital.org.
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