Entity is a vital part of the hospital’s team
By Faith strong
The Hospital Auxiliary at Bolivar Medical Center was an active and vital part of the hospital for a very long time. Volunteers could be found helping with Long Term Care resident activities, on patient floors offering coffee and magazines, and in the Auxiliary Gift Shop helping put together gift baskets for patients. Unfortunately, when COVID hit in March 2020 the program had to be put on hiatus until the crisis was over and under control. Thankfully, the hiatus is over.
In September, Bolivar Medical Center’s administrative team officially invited all Auxiliary members back to active duty. Summer Lovett is administrative coordinator for the hospital and said the Auxiliary’s first official effort has come to fruition.
“Since COVID, the program has now restarted mainly with the gift shop,” said Lovett. “And, we’re happy to say that the Auxiliary’s gift shop is officially opened As the Auxiliary grows its volunteer base again, they will spread out into different roles within the hospital.”
Lovett said that the Auxiliary uses the money they make from the gift shop to help purchase equipment for the hospital, fund nursing scholarships at Delta State and Mississippi Delta Community College.
“Today, we have stocked the gift shop completely,” she said. “There’s everything from patient care items to Bolivar Medical Center merchandise. Plus many gift ideas and fun things. The hospital presented the group with a check for $5,000, to be used to fund the Auxiliary Gift Shop in recognition and appreciation for all they do in our hospital.”
Lovett said the gift shop is opened Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and is located in the lobby of the hospital.
In the future, she said that the Auxiliary hopes to build more of a student volunteer base within the program.
“The program really wants students to be able to volunteer in the ER and help a little more in patient care areas,” she added. “And of course, we welcome back our community volunteers as well.”
Lovett also wanted to give a big shout out to Louis Jackson and Teres Weeks from accounting firm Jackson, Braswell, Mullins, and Bailey were instrumental in helping to reopen the hospital’s gift shop.
“They were just wonderful in helping our Auxiliary get started again,” she said. “And we thank them very much.”