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player ready...An annual event recognized 63 Auxiliary members for their many milestone hours.
Mary Adams of Hobart was looking for something to occupy her time when she retired from owning an antiques store with her sister in the late 1980s.
Joining the St. Mary Medical Center Auxiliary began a long journey to the 15,000 volunteer hours she recently completed as a dedicated server. Currently, she serves in Pastoral Care.
“At first, I worked with fundraisers, but became actively involved in 1992,” she said, after receiving her pin at the recent Volunteer Awards Luncheon and Gift Presentation ceremony at Avalon Manor. “I had no idea I would be here (at the hospital) so long. I never even thought about how many hours I was putting in, I was just enjoying my work.”
St. Mary CEO Janice Ryba greeted the audience of more than 300 people. “The value of our volunteers is priceless,” she said. “This (awards luncheon) speaks to the legacy of their work and the hospital.”
She added that the volunteer force is a huge part of the hospital’s success. ‘We couldn’t do it without them,” she said.
The annual event recognized 63 Auxiliary members for their many milestone hours.
Along with Adams, members tallying the top most hours worked were Vera Marinic and Justin Welter, 8,000 hours; Victoria Thompson and Patricia Zakutansky, 9,000 hours; Martha Miller, 10,000 hours; and Mary Jaroscak, 11,000 hours.
Other milestones honored were from 100 hours upward to 6,000.
Jim and Peggy Snelson of Merrillville joined the Auxiliary one year ago. Jim is a retired teacher and Peggy works as a medical office manager.
“I was a candy-striper when I was I high school,” Peggy said. “And my mother had been a volunteer at St. Margaret’s Hospital for many years, so I was aware of the positive impact of giving to others,” she said at the luncheon. “We decided to join the Auxiliary s a couple and we both enjoy our work in the Gift Shop.”
Also during the Awards Luncheon, new Auxiliary officers were introduced to the crowd.
Serving as 2016 president is Jan Holguin, vice president Barbara Layton; secretary Peggy Snelson; and treasurer Toni Sarkey.
Pat Kotulock serves as the volunteer’s records-keeper for the Auxiliary.
“When you think about all those hours worked, it would be less than minimum wage,” she said. “We are so very proud of our volunteers and what they do for the hospital. … They are very special people.”
In the past, the Auxiliary Awards Luncheon was planned separately from the annual check-passing ceremony for funds raised by the Auxiliary.
The latter represented monies garnered by members from the hospital’s Gift Shop, Garden Café and various other fundraising efforts.
This year, the two events were combined.
First on the agenda at the recent luncheon was two checks presented to Ryba.
This year’s total of $132,000 topped last year’s contribution of $130,000.
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One check was for $25,000, to be utilized toward the hospital’s scholarship fund; and a second check for $107,000 to buy wheelchairs for a few of the hospital’s departments, with the remainder to purchase miscellaneous equipment and supplies.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.