On the job in Los Alamos are Auxiliary members Kim Hogan, left, and Carol MacLeod volunteering Thursday afternoon in the Lobby Shop at Los Alamos Medical Center. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
The Lobby Shop is filled with fall decorations and gift items at LAMC. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Staff Report
Kim Hogan and Carol MacLeod were on the job volunteering Thursday afternoon in the Lobby Shop at Los Alamos Medical Center. They are members of the Hospital Auxiliary of Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC), which is an organization of 47 active members that serve the staff and patients of the hospital on a volunteer basis.
Donating more than 10,000 hours each year, the Auxiliary owns and operates the Lobby Shop, serves at many other stations throughout the facility. Among those are the front lobby and 2nd floor information desks, and Ambulatory Treatment Unit (ATU). The Auxiliary provides baby caps for the OB Department and handmade teddy bears for young patients who arrive at ED and on the hospitals 2nd floor.
The Auxiliary has a number of foreign volunteers who work in the Lobby Shop hoping to sharpen their English language skills.
Extensive community service is done during the year. The Auxiliary volunteers at the Annual Health Fair, Heart Council Seminars, serves light dinner at the Cancer Symposiums and as guides for the LAMC Teddy Bear Clinic for Los Alamos County kindergartners. The Auxiliary also participates in the LAMC Annual Halloween party.
The Auxiliary channels its profits from the Lobby Shop to support scholarships to Los Alamos High School seniors considering a career in the healthcare field. Through the Community Health Aid Committee, the Auxiliary offers scholarships to LAMC staff furthering their education in the medical field and provide educational materials for hospital staff workshops and classes.
The Auxiliary also helps the less fortunate in Northern New Mexico with medical and pharmaceutical aid when appropriate.
In 2015:
- 23,605.89 was spent for medical aid;
- $5,504.04 for pharmacy aid; and
- $9,720 for staff scholarships and educational classes and workshops.
The Auxiliary is always in great need of new volunteers, both women and men. Many positions are going unfilled and the Auxiliary hopes to attract some enthusiastic caring people who would like to give a half day once a week to help serve those who come to LAMC.
Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Auxiliary is asked to click here for an application or pick one up at the Auxiliary office or call 505.662.9555. Note: Please return all volunteer applications to the Auxiliary Office and not to the Human Resources Department at the hospital.
