LAMC Hospital Auxiliary members Addy Montoya, left, and Wendy Schamaun. Courtesy/LAMC
LAMC News:
The Los Alamos Medical Center’s Hospital Auxiliary is an organization of 47 active members who serve the staff and patients of the hospital on a volunteer basis.
As they begin this new year, the organization finds itself in great need of new volunteers. Many positions are going unfilled and they hope to attract some enthusiastic caring people who would like to give three hours a day, one day a week to help and serve those who come to the Los Alamos Medical Center.
Affectionately known through the years as the “pink ladies,” the term is no longer completely applicable, as several men now belong to the group and are seen around the facility sporting red coats.
Donating more than 10,000 hours each year, the Auxiliary owns and operates The Lobby Shop and serves at many other stations throughout the facility. Among those are the Lobby and 2nd floor information desks, hospitality, newborn photography and baby caps, handmade Teddy bears for children patients in ER and 2nd floor and patient assistance in the Ambulatory Treatment Unit (ATU).
LAMC Hospital Auxiliary member Svetlana Zhishkevich. Courtesy/LAMC
We have a number of foreigners who work in the lobby shop hoping to sharpen their English language skills.
Extensive community service is done at such functions as the annual Health Fair, the Cancer Symposium and Heart Council Seminars.
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.
2014 totals:
- $23,580 for medical aid;
- $9,424 for pharmacy aid,
- $16,833 for hospital staff scholarships; and
- $2,730 for staff educational classes and workshops.
For information about serving as a member of the Auxiliary, call 505.661.9555.
