Lakewood, NJ-- In the fall of 1910, a group of women from Lakewood gathered together with the idea of bringing a hospital to town. They estimated that they would need $100,000 in order to fund the facility, and quickly set about raising money in support of their plan. Paul Kimball Hospital – a 16-bed infirmary – opened just three years later in 1913. While much has changed at Kimball, the one constant has been the commitment of volunteers dedicated to raising funds in support of the Lakewood-based hospital.
The Kimball Auxiliary began as a small group of women, but really gathered momentum when the group opted to expand its membership and reach out to local community residents for help. Local Auxilians worked with their fellow neighbors in their fundraising efforts, and just like our Auxilians today, they were willing to do the work that needed to be done, happy to be able to help and eager to volunteer.
According to Angela Ashley, Director of Auxiliary Activities, each of the Auxiliary units – including Original Leisure Village, Leisure Village East, Renaissance, Fairways, Lake Ridge, Westlake, Lakewood-Jackson, Lots for Little, Treasure Chest and Kimball Closet – is involved in different programs and activities. “Auxiliary fundraising activities include an array of fun-filled social events such as bus trips, theatre parties, fashion shows, craft fairs and bake sales held throughout the community,” she explains. “These Auxiliary units also sponsor periodic vendor sales that take place in the hospital’s conference rooms and offer the opportunity for staff and visitors to find quality products at an affordable price – all while benefiting the hospital,” says Ashley.
In addition to sponsoring fundraising activities, the Auxiliary also hosts health education programs and screenings throughout the year and serve as good will ambassadors in the community.
“Auxiliary members also maintain the day-to-day operation of the three thrift shops that support Kimball Medical Center; Lots for Little in Lakewood, The Treasure Chest in Lakehurst and Kimball Closet in Jackson – with each store maintaining its own Auxiliary unit as well,” adds Ashley.
The Auxiliary Council is an important part of the Medical Center family, according to Caryl Russo, Ph.D., Vice President of Development, who works closely with the members of the Auxiliary Council. “They raise somewhere in the neighborhood of $300,000 for the hospital each year,” she says. “The Auxiliary has funded both large and small development projects, and, in general, allows the hospital to provide a higher level of comfort to our patients. Auxilians knit blankets for geriatric patients and baby bonnets for our newborns. They sponsor health fairs, blood pressure and glucose screenings and refer friends to Kimball Medical Center physicians,” she adds.
For more information about joining one of the Kimball Medical Center Auxiliary units, please contact the Kimball Medical Center Foundation at 732.886.GIFT (4438).
Date: September 2, 2009
CONTACT: Carrie Cristello
Director, Public Relations
732-923-6552
ccristello@sbhcs.com
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