Published: December 13, 2007 11:34 pm      

Jeff Anderson Volunteer Auxiliary installs officers, launches cookbook

Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center’s Volunteer Auxiliary celebrated the group’s accomplishments in 2007, installed officers for 2008, presented service hour awards and premiered the auxiliary’s cookbook at their annual holiday luncheon Wednesday.

Rachel Keller, auxiliary coordinator, presented plaques to 2007 officers Sylvia Mercado, president, Laura Jordan, vice president, and Johnnie Nell Alexander, secretary/treasurer. A gift also was presented to each in appreciation of their hard work during the year, Keller said.

Elected to serve in 2008 are Laura Jordan, co- president; Jim Autry, co-president; Pat Kalinowski, vice president; and Johnnie Nell Alexander, secretary/treasurer.

Keller announced that Mercado was named Volunteer of the Year by the Mississippi Hospital Association. In 2007, the Volunteer Auxiliary, along with the youth volunteers, donated 6,900 hours of service.

The auxiliary's cookbook “Recipes to Remember,” is available at the Volunteer Desk in the hospital's ICU/CCU lobby. The cost is $10, with proceeds going toward funding community projects supported by the group.

The Jeff Anderson Volunteer Auxiliary was organized in 1982 with the goal of “giving help where help is needed.” Auxiliary members staff the information desk, assist with hospital activities/events, deliver mail and flowers, provide layettes to the Nursery, and assist families in the waiting rooms for ICU, CCU, Surgery and Labor & Delivery.

Member activities include donating $12,900 to the Meridian Community College Nursing Program. The auxiliary also helps with many community projects, including The Lions Club Eye Glass Project, The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Survivors Walk, provides donations of time, money and food to LOVE's Kitchen and works with organizations such as the American Heart Association and the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi.

The Volunteer Auxiliary currently has 40 members. Active charter members are Thelma Buie, Dorothy Y. Gleason and Emma Griffin.