On November 7, 1923, Bert Terwilliger, on behalf of the hospital board of directors, organized The Women's Auxiliary of the Veteran's Memorial Hospital (now Ellenville Regional Hospital).

"In the beginning, it was a very small hospital. For many years, the auxiliary sewed sheets, towels, curtains, bedspreads and bandages, and paid for furniture, food and fuel," explained Maggi Heath, current President of the Ellenville Regional Hospital Auxiliary.

Nearly 84 years and $125 million in donations later, the Ellenville Regional Hospital Auxiliary is still going strong.

On Monday, September 10, the Auxiliary donated $14,000 for the purchase of new equipment, during their 42nd annual luncheon, held at The Eagle's Nest in Bloomingburg.

"Four years ago, we all thought we might lose our hospital. There were times I scraped together just enough to make payroll," said Ellenville Regional Hospital CEO Steve Kelley at the luncheon.

"Today, things are better," Kelley continued. "On October 16, we break ground on our new Senior Housing Complex. We are in the final stages of creating a foundation to aid in fund raising. And we are preparing to relocate our Physical Therapy Department to the old Emergency Room."

Of the $550,000 that the project requires, the hospital has already raised $400,000.

"It will have a new entrance. Right now, half of the physical therapy is just getting to the Physical Therapy Department!" added Kelley.

Members of the Physical Therapy Department were in attendance, including Theresa Marcel, Dawn Lyons and Rose Aharn.

During the event, "God Bless America" was sung by Reverend Denise Younger and Carolyn Kuhlmann was awarded 'Auxilian of the Year'.

COMMENTS about this article (5)