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Stormont-Vail HealthCare Auxiliary

Through our dedication and compassion, we serve with tender loving care and confidentiality the needs of patients and families using the services of Stormont-Vail HealthCare. Together, we make a difference through service, monetary support and promoting community goodwill.

Since 1949, the Auxiliary has provided service, monetary support, materials needs, and community goodwill to Stormont-Vail HealthCare. Today over 300 men and women serve Topeka through Stormont-Vail.

Some Auxilians volunteer in the health center, while some provide support through other Auxiliary activities.

Discover Stormont-Vail Auxilians at work and play...

 Operate:

  • Auxiliary Gift Shop
  • Auxiliary Coffee Shop

 Promote goodwill for:

  • Stormont-Vail
  • Topeka

 Provide monetary support for:

  • Care Line
  • Patient library
  • Chapel
  • Christmas decorations
  • Building Blocks Childrens Center
  • Learning for Life Program
  • SANE/SART Program in Emergency Services
  • Nursing scholarships
  • Renovation and furnishing of 5, 6, 7 North Patient Tower waiting rooms
  • Furnished Birthplace waiting room

Numerous other projects and services
for Stormont-Vail HealthCare:

Offer:

  • Fellowship
  • Satisfying opportunities
  • Rewarding experiences

You are welcome:

  • Membership is open to adult men and women who have an interest in services that enhance the treatment and healing of Stormont-Vail patients and families.
  • You may become an Auxiliary member upon the payment of dues: Active Member: $12 per year, Life Member: $100 one-time
  • The Auxiliary also offers various groups that meet for education and fellowship.
  • For more information about the Stormont-Vail Auxiliary, please call (785) 354-6095.

Our History, that of the Stormont-Vail Auxiliary, originated with the merging of two hospitals: Christ's Hospital and Jane C. Stormont Hospital, both of which were founded in Topeka in the late 1800s.

In 1882, Kansas' first Episcopal Bishop, the Rev. Thomas Hubbard Vail, and his wife Ellen Bowman Vail, purchased 20 acres of land, half of which was bounded by Washburn, Eighth, Garfield, and Tenth Streets, and dedicated this site for a hospital. Construction was started in 1883 and the three-bed, wooden structure was formally opened in May 1884. Shortly after coming to Topeka in 1865, Ellen Vail suffered a severe illness, which left her totally blind. Even so, she was the driving force and guiding spirit for Christ's Hospital that served a large territory.

In 1894, a group of laymen and doctors met to develop ideas for a women's hospital. Jane C. Stormont, widow of a Topeka doctor, saw the need for care for the less affluent, and contributed $10,000 toward founding the Potwin Place Institution completed in October 1895, which was to bear her name.

Both hospitals served, expanded, fostered schools of nursing, and generally prospered, although in different ways. By 1948, each hospital needed to expand further; one had ample grounds but limited endowment; the other was adequately endowed but needed a new site for growth. Through the farsightedness of the respective hospital boards and with cordial relationships, the two hospitals merged and applied for federal funds, made available by the Hill-Burton Act. With combined assets, federal funds, and a successful city bond election of October 1949, a new hospital building and equipment became possible. The new plant for Stormont-Vail Hospital opened its doors to patients in July 1953.

Our Birth preceded the merging of the two hospitals when the administrator of Jane C. Stormont Hospital, Delora Rodeen, RN, envisioned an Auxiliary to interpret the anticipated new hospital to the community, and to aid the hospital and the school of nursing in any way approved by the hospital administration. Mrs. Rodeen invited a group of representative women to tea in May 1949, to explain her ideas, which were well received.

Mrs. Lloyd Raish was elected president, and the organization was under way. The first task consummated by the five-month-old Auxiliary was promoting the $2 million bond election. A telephone campaign covering the city was conducted by Auxiliary members, and voters needing transportation were provided rides to the polls. The organization took shape rapidly, gaining three realizations immediately: purpose, opportunities for service, and a need for funds. The first, as presently stated in the Auxiliary Constitution, is: "The object of the organization shall be to interpret the hospital to the community at large and to assist the hospital in anyway deemed advisable by the hospital administration." The first services for volunteer participation were organized in 1951 and were Patients' Library and Flower Care Service. It became apparent that membership dues would not adequately (nor quickly) fund the service projects, nor create a medium for earning funds. Hence, a gala "Gay Nineties Ball" was held at Meadow Acres Ballroom on Friday, April 27, 1951, realizing a profit of $9,697.92.

Our Work increased perceptibly when Carl C. Lamley, coordinator of the two-hospital consolidation and first administrator of Stormont-Vail Hospital, encouraged the fledgling Auxiliary to open a small shop in the old Christ's Hospital structure. With limited menu, a short line of sundries and gifts, but a great desire to be of service to the hospital staff, patients, and visitors, the "Hospitality Shop" was opened for business on Monday, March 3, and celebrated an open house on Friday, March 14, 1952.

In 1978, the Hospitality Shop was moved to the basement of the new North Tower addition. The Gift Shop was then enlarged to include the space used by the dining area of the old shop. In 1985, the Gift Shop was again enlarged and moved to the lobby of the South Tower. Profits from The Hospitality Shop and Gift Shop has assisted in financing Auxiliary gifts, projects, and services for the hospital.

Interest in the Stormont-Vail School of Nursing has been evidenced throughout the life of the Auxiliary by scholarships, books, films, and professional periodicals. Financial aid was given for national accreditation, which was achieved in 1961. Assistance has been given students to attend state and national student nurses' associations and conventions. Funds, as well as decorating, have been expended on the interior of the student residences. In addition, all of the groups took turns presenting a "Shower-of-the-Month" for the students with miscellaneous items such as snacks, cake mixes, etc., for student breaks. In the year 1990-1991, funds presented to the school of nursing were designated for scholarships only. The Auxiliary maintains a close relationship with the school of nursing through membership on the advisory council.

Our Service to Stormont-Vail HealthCare, and ultimately to Topeka, has taken form in numerous projects whereby the volunteer 1) supplements, but does not supplant an employee or staff person; 2) gives aid, care, and ease to patients at the direction of and under the supervision of the professional staff. Volunteers are working in numerous areas.

Since 1968, the Auxiliary has donated or pledged to the hospital more than $3 million, which does not count the value of hours of service or the special gifts given by individual groups. Among the largest gifts were the $150,000 for the Pozez Education Center, $250,000 toward the Gerontology program, $100,000 toward the Learning for Life program, $100,000 for the Surgery addition, $100,000 for the NIC, $100,000 for the Cancer Center and $100,000 for the Emergency/Trauma Center.

Our Framework for the organization is that of an overall executive board made up of officers; chairs of standing committees, projects and services; and chairs of groups. Members are placed in groups for the purpose of administration, education, information, and service. From the onset of the Auxiliary, it may be noted that there has been a triple thrust yet a singleness for purpose of "personality" of the Auxiliary: (1) individual efforts in terms of time, energy, talent, and money toward service and equipment for the medical center, exist alongside (2) group interest that may take on a single project as well as perform various services, and (3) these are carried on simultaneously with the overall Auxiliary efforts, which adhere closely to the purpose.

Not all volunteers who donate their services in the medical center are Auxiliary members, nor are all Auxiliary members active volunteers. However, all Auxiliary members, whether in groups, members-at-large, honorary members, or life time members, support the Auxiliary purpose and projects.

Following is a partial list of projects fostered by the Auxiliary during the years of its existence: planting around the health center grounds; Christmas decorations in the health center building; decorating the Volunteer Lounge; redecorating the basement meeting room; tray favors for patients; printing of coloring book - "Snorky's World," created by surgery nurses for preoperative use with children; purchase of a new "Snorky" costume; child-size furniture for the Emergency Room; toys, books, and dolls for Pediatrics; redecoration of hospital waiting rooms; purchase and supplying of magazines and paperbacks; carts and supplies for Auxiliary services and projects; postage for the youth volunteers' news sheet - "the go betweens"; expenses for hanging artwork in designated areas of the medical center; a fetal heart monitor, a sizable gift to the cardiac unit; four Rescusi-Anne Dolls for the Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Training Program; teaching films for CPR; $10,000 was set aside for development of courtyard between new buildings; clothing for the Gerontology Unit; stress monitors; computers for the volunteer office; baby showers for needy babies in the way of clothing and other items; and the beautifully decorated waiting room for The Birthplace in honor of Howard Chase, former CEO of Stormont-Vail.

In 1983, we purchased a satellite dish for the Pozez building for $10,000. This made it possible to bring in educational programs for the medical staff. We also gave Pozez $10,000 to purchase exercise equipment for the Fitness Center.

When Building Blocks, a daycare facility for children of Stormont-Vail/St.Francis employees was built, we cooperated with the St. Francis Auxiliary to provide funds to build a small toy barn for wagons and tricycles.

Some of our volunteers knit tiny stocking caps for babies in the Newborn Nursery, which help the babies maintain a normal temperature and also make a nice gift to send home with baby. Some Auxilians also knit tiny afghans for NICU babies.

When the Hospitality and Gift Shops were moved to the first floor, North Tower, they were redesigned and redecorated. The Gift Shop shifted its emphasis from patient care items to lovely gifts and jewelry when so much of the hospital work became outpatient care. The Hospitality Shop is now the Food Connection.

The Stormont-Vail Auxiliary has had a wonderful association with the hospital and its administration. We have accomplished a great deal and look forward to an exciting future as we work with Stormont-Vail to provide outstanding care for our community.

Our Concept of an Auxilian may be many things, but at Stormont-Vail HealthCare, an Auxilian is a descendent of Ellen Vail and Jane Stormont, pioneers whose uppermost thoughts were for the care and healing of the sick. Our Auxilians are related to Delora Rodeen, who dared to make a dream reality. There are many fine men and women who serve Topeka through the health center. An integral part of the health center, is the eyes of the community, an auxilian is the community serving the hospital.