The Carle BroMenn Service Auxiliary celebrated its hundredth anniversary with a reception in the Normal hospital's atrium Thursday morning.
The service auxiliary is a volunteer group that works to improve the hospital experience for staff, patients and visitors. It also plans special events, works on physician engagement and raises money for certain hospital needs. The service auxiliary has raised more than $4,850,000 over the last 25 years.
“We have over 650 volunteers that are serving in over 51 different departments, and very unique ways that also offer special service,” said Sue Seibring, manager of volunteer services at Carle BroMenn.
Attendees included hospital staff, current and former board members and presidents, Normal Mayor Chris Koos, Normal councilmember Kevin McCarthy and Bloomington Mayor Dan Brady.
“We rely very heavily on the service auxiliary board. I work closely with them personally and meet with them during all of their meetings, and I know with their passion, dedication and how they continue to recruit new members, they will continue to evolve for the next 100, 200 years to have an impact,” said Colleen Kannaday, president of Carle BroMenn and Carle Eureka hospitals.
The Carle Resale Boutique collects and sells donated bargain items such as clothing, housewares, books, jewelry and collectibles. Donations are tax-deductible.
“That is our main fund for supporting what we still do today, funds that are raised at the retail thrift we donate back to the hospital and equipment,” said Barbie Carter, president of the auxiliary board.
The service auxiliary began as the women’s service league May 11, 1925 at what was then known as Brokaw Hospital in Normal. It evolved over the last century from a group helping to purchase equipment for the hospital by sewing surgical dressings and decorations for hospital rooms, running a snack bar and entertaining patients and nurses.
“Today is a day to really recognize the passion, the dedication, the vision of so many of the women in the service auxiliary that really had the foresight to be able to look at where there was a need, and to be able to come together and step in and say, how do we fill that, and how do we give back to what is today, Carle BroMenn Medical Center,” said Kannaday.
