2017 has been a highly successful year for the Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital Auxiliary. The organization recently awarded nearly $79,000 in allocations to hospital departments and clinics, which is the highest amount awarded since 2011.
All funds come from auxiliary-coordinated sales. Those range from the Garden Grounds espresso stand and Caring Corner gift shop at the hospital; to the twice-yearly six-dollar sales, scrub sales and book sales; as well as poinsettia sales and pie slices sold at Concerts in the Park.
Some $1,000 also came from the jewelry and handbag resale, which is the auxiliary’s newest event. Hospital employees were so impressed with this sale that they nominated the auxiliary for a Champions of Care designation.
Allocations went to:
- Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation toward the auxiliary’s $200,000 pledge for the Japanese garden on the Samaritan Health Sciences Campus.
- Human Resources for a new paper cutter.
- Diabetes Education for podiatry vacuums.
- Nutrition Services for two-way radios.
- Professional Development for automatic electronic defibrillation training equipment.
- Emergency Management for radio battery cases and decontamination filters.
- Imaging at the hospital for new chairs in the waiting area.
- Imaging at Samaritan Lebanon Health Center for a two-step platform and leg ruler.
- Main Street Family Medicine for exam room upgrades.
- Surgery for a carbon dioxide insufflator.
- Respiratory Therapy for a digital video upgrade for EEG testing.
In addition, the auxiliary awarded last spring five $1,000 scholarships to east Linn County students pursuing careers in health care.
Hospital volunteers and auxiliary members have contributed more than 13,000 hours throughout 2017 to the hospital at several patient-greeting stations around the hospital, as well as the auxiliary’s fundraising activities.
Regarding the pledge for the garden, Foundation Director Betty Koehn said the North American Japanese Gardening Association will visit the garden during the association’s 2018 conference next September.
“We could not have developed this garden without your pledge,” Koehn said.
Anyone interested in joining the auxiliary and volunteers can learn more or call Sheryl Berger, Volunteer Services Manager, at 541-451-7062.