"Triangle of Service" Supports Hospital Patients and Staff

Steeped in history, the enduring goals of The Methodist Hospital’s three volunteer programs have remained the same – to serve the community and the hospital through compassion, dedication, devotion, and financial support.

The Methodist Hospital Auxiliary has provided 74 years of service to The Methodist Hospital. The Auxiliary generates funds for the hospital through the Roberta Powell Dwyer Gift Shop and Boutique and the Auxiliary Thrift Shop. Other significant fund raisers are the annual Christmas Bazaar, the style show and luncheon, and annual art and book sales. Last year, gifts from the Auxiliary of $97,073 were presented to the hospital for the purchase of capital equipment. This group also has a children’s fund from the United Methodist Church to assist pediatric patients and new mothers, and a sewing group to work on specific projects for patients. The Methodist Hospital Auxiliary maintains an active role in the Texas and American Associations of Hospital Auxiliaries.

The Methodist Hospital Service Corps, literally wear their hearts on their sleeves. Providing 55 years of service this May, their motto has served them well. MHSC stands for Ministering, Helping, Serving, and Caring. Last year, their efforts with ambulatory surgery, the blood donor center, the book cart, chapel, clerical tasks, the doctors’ coffee bar, Dunn 3 waiting room, emergency room, information desk, intensive care assistance, international patients, mail delivery, patient care, visitors, radiology, and hospital tours, totaled 14,380 hours of voluntary service for the patients and guests of the hospital.

The volunteers completing the third part of this triangle of service, Caring Friends, are teens, college students, and dietary interns/volunteers. This summer will mark the hospital’s third year to offer a youth program. Many young volunteers maintain their volunteer duties during the school year, and in 2001 provided approximately 10,500 hours of service.

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/04_01_02/page_20.html