The best of the best

A kind smile and a warm look in their eyes give away the members of the Auxiliary of the Lake Granbury Medical Center (LGMC). When a loved one is in the hospital, even for something as wonderful as the arrival of a new member of the family, tensions can be high. Someone to kindly provide some direction, to patiently answer some questions is needed at these times, and that’s just what a hospital auxiliary provides.

A local resident mentioned that there is always a “beaming, smiling face to greet folks that enter the oncology building.” She felt there is just something special about hospital volunteers — a higher level of compassion. 

At a time when some hospital auxiliary programs are closing, the Lake Granbury Medical Center Auxiliary is going strong. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in May of this year. There are currently 60 volunteers in the organization. 

Mostly retirees, the members of the LGMC Auxiliary bring with them not only compassion, but a wealth of skills picked up from careers ranging from teachers to bankers, engineers to nurses, members of the military and more. 

These volunteers of various talents staff 12 different stations within the hospital and combined, they work an average of 1,100 hours a month.

The auxiliary is part of the Texas Association of Healthcare Volunteers. There are 10 districts in the state of Texas. The district, which is district five, includes 27 hospital members from an area from Denison to Granbury including the Dallas-Fort Worth area. 

Members of the LGMC Auxiliary are looking forward to hosting the district meeting in 2024. 

Besides answering questions, providing direction and being a helping hand, the auxiliary donates to various community organizations and provides scholarships to the tune of $10K annually. The volunteers raise these funds through the hospital gift shop which they also operate. 

Fundraising allows the volunteers of the auxiliary to have a positive impact, not only to the staff and visitors to the hospital, but to the community at large. Volunteering offers something to the volunteers as well.  

"I enjoy volunteering at the hospital because of the friendly people that come through, especially ones who have just had a baby or grandchild.  Also, the other volunteers are so helpful when you first start and always willing to help others.  I do look forward to my shifts at the hospital,” says Carol Hoefs, auxiliary volunteer. 

Marilyn Lowery, auxiliary president agrees, “Being a volunteer is very possibly the best way to spend retirement. I have met so many new friends and know we are doing something useful.” Lowery added, “These volunteers are the best of the best.”