T
hey say that volunteering adds years to your life and the Auxilians at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services are proof! With thousands of hours of serving the Gallup community through their support of RMCHCS and its patients, this group of over sixty members is a lively bunch.
In 1985, Rehoboth Christian Hospital and McKinley General merged and the auxiliaries in support of each were combined into one group. It was no simple feat given the loyalties that are prone to exist among auxiliaries for the organizations they support! Today, founding members of those early groups are still actively involved in the Auxiliary at RMCHCS. Nellie Long, at Rehoboth, and Octavia Fellin and Betty Smith, both at McKinley General, were instrumental in beginning the auxiliaries in 1966 and 1968, respectively, and the fine tradition of service that is still in place today.
Put simply, Auxilians offer assistance, encouragement and support to patients, hospital staff and the community. Volunteers serve a minimum of four hours each week in a variety of capacities. Daily, Auxilians operate the hospital information desk, gift shop, and thrift shop on Vanden Bosch Pkwy. And throughout the year, they coordinate multiple blood drives and book sales, decorate the hospital cafeteria, and help plan and raise funds for the annual Charity Invitational. They organize the Balloon Rally breakfast and the Valentine’s Day bake sale, help out at the annual Community Health Fair, coordinate youth volunteers, and manage the scholarship program through which $10,000 are awarded to students pursuing careers the medical field each year.
A small representation of the RMCHCS Auxililians (this photo). Twila Moots, one of the managers of the Hospital Gift Shop, displaying some of its inventory, including baby items, religious figures, cards and much more (above).
Many of the volunteers found serving on the Auxiliary a natural complement to a life of working in healthcare, and some sought the opportunity to support a community resource. Whatever the case, the Auxilians find their work very rewarding. However, there is a need for new volunteers to carry on in their service to RMCHCS and the community. Volunteering for the Auxiliary is for anyone with a smile on their face and a few hours to spare each week. For more information on the Auxiliary or to volunteer, check out the Community Health Fair on Wednesday, May 16 at UNM-Gallup, Gurley Hall from 11am to 5:30pm (see p. 49) or call 505 863-7325.
TOOL OF THE TRADE • A Smile
believe • gallup
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