Many times we’re asked who The Sheridan Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is? Below you’re going to read countless things they accomplish year after year to support your community hospital. They are one of twenty-seven Auxiliaries and numerous hospital volunteer organizations in the state of Wyoming. However, this unique group of individuals comes together, day after day, to support our mission, the staff, patients, and the community that we live in. They ensure that the traditions of our hospital live on through Trees of Love and 5-year-old Birthday parties. They presently gift patients of all ages with baby books, scrubby bears, or Gifts of Kindness during the holidays to provide comfort during their stay. They raise funds through all their projects and donate tens of thousands of dollars and volunteer hours to ensure a future for your community hospital. For these reasons and all those listed below in their nomination letter, The Sheridan Memorial Hospital Auxilary has been named The Wyoming Hospital Association’s Outstanding Volunteer Program of The Year for 2021.
Dear Selection Committee:
I am writing to nominate the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Auxiliary for the Wyoming Hospital Association’s Volunteer Program of the Year. During 2020, there were no celebrations to recognize the Auxiliary members for their 75th year of support, but they continued to do what they do best: fulfill their mission “to provide comfort to and better the welfare of Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s patients.”
The SMH Auxiliary was founded in 1945 and since then has supported nearly every department and project at the hospital. Just before COVID broke out in early 2020, the Auxiliary announced a gift of $37,000 to enhance patient care in several departments including Respiratory Therapy, Urgent Care and Family Waiting Rooms. Although, COVID restrictions meant closing down the Auxiliary gift shop, waiting room volunteering and other annual events, the Auxiliary and other hospital volunteers kicked into full support mode and changed things up with new ideas to continue their mission. Auxiliary members made masks and gowns. They volunteered to iron the nearly 10,000 donated, hand-made masks after they were laundered. Annual events turned from in-person events to fun filled drive by celebrations and socially distanced spirit-lifters. At the end of the summer, their tradition of celebrating all five year old birthdays in our community was a huge success, with over 150 cars driving by to watch their favorite animated characters (Auxiliary members in full costume) hand out activity bags. And during the holiday season, the Auxiliary helped bring comfort and joy to our community by hosting a socially distanced Trees of Love ceremony, lighting the trees out in front of the hospital.
Over one of their monthly Zoom meetings in February, the Auxiliary once again stepped up to help the hospital with a pledge of $50,000 for the Transitional Care Expansion Campaign. This generous gift kicked off the community fund drive that successfully raised $4.4 million in just over 10 months. With this gift, the Auxiliary has given $724,000 to Sheridan Memorial Hospital over the last 20 years.
Last month, the SMH Auxiliary Board hosted a welcome back lunch and celebrated 76 years of community service with cake and special visit from Mike McCafferty, CEO of SMH. We are so happy to have them back on campus. Volunteers of the Auxiliary are once again working in our hospital’s Kozy Korner gift shop and recently returned to the Hospital’s Outpatient Waiting Area to help and assist our patient families and caregivers
I am so proud to have the opportunity to work with this incredibly dedicated group of SMH supporters. Our hospital would not be what it is today without their support. I highly recommend the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and all of our dedicated volunteers for the Wyoming Hospital Association’s Volunteer Program of the Year.
Sincerely,
Cody S. Sinclair
Chief Development Officer
To learn more about The Auxiliary contact our Volunteer and Development Coordinator – Jasmine Slater at 307.675.2620 or visit https://www.sheridanhospital.org/community/volunteer-opportunities/.