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The hearing program was initiated in 1995, “when a few physicians asked the auxiliary if it would be possible to start a hearing test program for newborns, before it was ever mandated by the state of Florida,” said Stewart. The auxiliary purchased the equipment for the hospital’s program.
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Over the past 60 years, the Indian River Medical Center Auxiliary has supported the efforts of the hospital by providing more than 100,000 volunteer hours annually and a total of about $4 million to assist the hospital in its growth. At its diamond anniversary celebration last week, a characteristically modest affair in the hospital cafeteria, government officials brushed elbows with a corps of pink clad ladies and their male counterparts who comprise the 500-member organization. The Auxiliary was started in 1952 by Lucy Auxier and Sis Johnson at the recommendation of hospital founder, Garnett Radin. “There are 30 areas in the hospital that the auxiliary staffs,” said executive director, Mary Jane Stewart, including the information desks, transport of patients within the medical center, the gift shop and the maternity ward, where the Stork Club volunteers perform mandatory hearing tests on newborns. The Stork Club program was recently recognized by the Florida Department of Health’s Newborn Screening Program with a $900 check to help pay for supplies. The hearing test costs $10 per baby. Screening newborns for hearing loss became a state requirement in 2000 as a way of identifying and providing hearing aids when necessary to infants as young as one month old, to help in their development.
The Stork Club volunteers also visit new mothers, hand out parenting information and take photos of the newborns, the proceeds of which go into the auxiliary’s coffers. Pat Hahn, chairperson of the Stork Club, has been a volunteer at the hospital for 17 years, putting in between 50 and 70 hours a month. “When I saw a photo of the volunteers cuddling the babies, I knew that’s what I wanted to do when I retire,” Hahn said. In addition, the auxiliary raises funds for hospital programs through the gift shop, which has only one paid employee, and the thrift shop, which is owned by the organization and STAFF PHOTOS clears about $60,000 a year. Mayor Pilar Turner was one of the many dignitaries on hand to help the Indian “The Tree of Lights celebration, River Medical Center Auxiliary celebrate its 60 years of service. where people purchase lights for the Christmas tree in memory or honor of a loved one, helps support women’s health programs,” said Stewart. Although the auxiliary’s primary focus is helping to staff the hospital and serve its patients, the organization’s financial contributions are an ongoing source of support to the hospital. The auxiliary raises a yearly average of $100,000 through its events, which have helped cover the cost of renovating the hospital front lobby ($220,000), purchasing patient room furniture to match new hospital beds ($330,000), purchasing wheel chairs, stethoscopes, blanket warmers for the cancer center, and contributing $500,000 to the construction of the new emergency room. To be considered active, volunteers are required to donate 75 hours each year to the auxiliary. During the school year, there are about 40 teenage volunteers, between the ages of 15 and 18. During the summer, that number climbs to 100. Although it began as an all female
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LISA RYMER VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY
M A R C H
IRMC Auxiliary: Volunteering for 60 years
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