SARH Auxiliary officers for 2010 include (from left) Deb Porter, Lucy Dostal, secretary; Fran Pedelty, treasurer; Marilyn Hoffman, Kas Clausen, Diane Hannasch, Peggy Wilberding, Trish Roberts, Pat Sanders, Alice Baumhover and Sharon Collison.

The St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary began their 55th year with the installation of new officers. Serving the Auxiliary as 2010 Co-Presidents are, Diane Hannasch, Deb Porter, Kas Clausen, Sharon Collison, Peggy Wilberding, Alice Baumhover, Pat Sanders and Marilyn Hoffman. Treasurer is Fran Pedelty, Secretary is Lucy Dostal.

The St. Anthony Auxiliary volunteers play an important part in the daily activities at the hospital.  Auxiliary projects include the daily operation of the Coffee and Gift Shop, staffing visitor reception desks in the atrium, radiology, surgery center and third floor, assisting with clerical duties in hospital departments, and helping coordinate community blood drives. Many auxilians invest time and talent knitting so that every baby born at St. Anthony receives a hand made blanket and prayer shawls are available to comfort patients. 

Over the years, the St. Anthony Auxiliary has donated more than $520,000 to major hospital projects, including the Alzheimer’s addition, The Birth Place, cardiac rehabilitation and, most recently, the Education and Training Center. Many smaller donations are made to fill the need of equipment, toys, or supplies to hospital departments. The Auxiliary’s scholarship program awards six $500 scholarships to nursing students from DMACC, Kuemper and Carroll High Schools, and contributes $500 to the Iowa Healthcare Education and Research Foundation statewide scholarship program. In addition, the Auxiliary participates as a major sponsor of St. Anthony’s annual Golf Classic. Special fundraising projects throughout the year include book and bake sales, $5 jewelry events, Scrubs & Beyond sale and the annual Christmas Tour of Homes. In 2009, a decorated wreath silent auction contributed $1,295 to the nursing home wheelchair washer fund and a Discovery Toy Sale gave Occupational Therapy more than $400 to buy toys for pediatric patients.

“Our mission clearly says that our volunteers are one of our most valuable resources,” said Gary Riedmann, President of St. Anthony. “We see that every day in the many ways the Auxiliary serves the hospital. Each volunteer brings special talents and abilities that are freely given to make our community a better place to live, work and raise our families.” 

Membership in the Auxiliary totals 365 members who all play a vital role in the organization. Anyone interested in joining the St. Anthony Auxiliary is encouraged to call Alice Baumhover, membership chair, at 792-3091.