St. Joseph Regional Medical Center

Each year, a volunteer who exemplifies the mission and philosophy of the Medical Center is recognized by peers and staff for his or her contributions as a volunteer and Mary Lou Gruber was recently selected for this honor – the 2008 Volunteer of the Year. Mary Lou joined the SJRMC Auxiliary upon retiring as Assistant Controller at LCSC in 2000. Her contributions to the Auxiliary and to our hospital are vast. A typical week for Mary Lou may include a morning shift in ED/Minor Care; a few hours organizing hospital archives; meeting with the hospital’s Philosophy Advisory Committee, tending all the live plants throughout the hospital or working on all of the special projects and fund raising activities of the Auxiliary. She is completing her second year as Auxiliary Board president; prior to that she served as newsletter editor and is an active participant in many of the volunteer leadership events of the Idaho Hospital Association.

Our popular mascot, St. Joe Bernard –aka “Joe,” came to life in 2002 and plays a significant role in our hospital and community. Mary Lou is the spirit behind and within Joe and the one who wears the heavy, hot costume for all the events. Joe appears in parades, at picnics, and makes hospital “rounds” in his spare time, bringing many smiles along the way. And in 2007, Mary Lou gave thought and lives to a book cart/lending library for patients and their families. The attractive cart, known as the W.O.W. cart (Words On Wheels) travels the halls of the hospital stocked with gently used books for patients and guests alike.

A resident of Lewiston since 1966, she married to Jack Gruber and has three daughters and a son. A devoted grandma, she has 8 grandchildren and 3 1/2 great grandchildren. Raising her family was a natural spring board to volunteering and she has volunteered in her childrens’ schools, church, Bluebird/CampFire, Cub Scouts, and Lewiston Service League, among many others. She is also a member of Chapter Q PEO. She enjoys yoga, Pilates, swimming, and other types of exercise and counts scrap booking and geocacheing as leisure time hobbies.

Mary Lou states that her reason for volunteering is purely selfish: “I don’t get any reward from housework, yard work or cooking…my rewards come from giving of my time elsewhere. “ I like the feeling of being needed. SOMEWHERE!”

We need you here and we’re proud to honor you as the 2008 Volunteer of the Year!

Please join us at a reception to recognize Mary Lou Gruber as the 2008 Volunteer of the year, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30, Thursday, May 1, 2008, Cafeteria Annex, 2nd floor

The St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Auxiliary plays an important part in the delivery of healthcare services to those we serve. Funds raised by the Auxiliary through the Elizabeth Gift Shop as well as annual events, support special Medical Center projects and equipment acquisition. Auxiliary volunteers annually contribute over 24,000 hours of services in the Medical Center assisting patients, family members and quests, as well as Medical Center staff. The SJRMC volunteers are an important part of the Medical Center team and continuously enhance the ability of healthcare through their many contributions.

If you are interested in becoming an Auxiliary Volunteer, please contact the Volunteer Services office at (208) 799-5319 or send an email to lirish@sjrmc.org

Volunteer Opportunities

The St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, established nearly 50 years ago for the purpose of providing assistance to the patients, staff, hospital and the community, is an integral part of the Medical Center's mission and philosophy in action. Organizing and staffing a coffee shop for visitors and employees was a primary activity of the early Auxiliary group. Following a period of inactivity, the Auxiliary was reorganized and re-energized in the early 1970's, focusing efforts on establishing a toy workshop and developing the gift shop. In 1989, the gift shop became the Elizabeth Gift Shop, in honor of Elizabeth Barnes, a key figure in the reorganization of the Auxiliary and growth of the gift shop. The SJRMC Auxiliary has grown to a current membership of approximately 250 devoted women and men who contribute thousands of hours of service, raise funds for support of special Medical Center projects and/or equipment, and provide immeasurable goodwill in our community. Easily recognizable in their pink jackets and navy jackets, the SJRMC volunteers provide a variety of services throughout the Medical Center. Whether providing information at the main desk, assisting patients being admitted or discharged, staffing the Surgery Waiting Lounge, giving blood pressure readings, running errands, making toys, or working in the Elizabeth Gift Shop, each volunteer offers a reassuring smile and a helping hand to those in need.

In addition to providing the above services and raising funds through gift shop sales, the Auxiliary has planned, organized and hosted the annual Five Tastes of Wine event for the past 33 years. In 1999, the Auxiliary joined forces with the SJRMC Foundation to expand the wine tasting into a two-day, gala event, which has proven to be a very popular and successful social and fund-raising venture. The Auxiliary also hosts an annual salad bar at the Medical Center each June and an annual mini tree and wreath auction during the Christmas season. These fund raising efforts enabled the Auxiliary to contribute $200,000 toward the acquisition of the new open MRI in the Radiology Department in 2002.

All the funds raised by the Auxiliary are earmarked for special projects within the hospital, which enhance the quality of medical care available in our community.

If you or someone you know might be interested in joining this dedicated and energetic group of volunteers*, please contact the Volunteer Services Office, 208-799-5319, or send an e-mail to meyler-abney@sjrmc.org to learn more about this program.

There is also a program in place for high school and college volunteers; contact information is the same as above.

Gift Shop

“A great gift is a Good Thing” Elizabeth told Martha...

Our Gift Shop buyers travel far and wide to bring a unique shopping experience to the Hospital; whether you’re shopping for someone staying with us, or you’re just visiting, you’ll be amazed at all the great gift ideas. And of course, our friendly volunteer staff is here to help you, whether you’re shopping in person or by phone.

The Elizabeth Gift Shop, located on the hospital's main floor on 6th Street in Lewiston, Idaho, offers a wide array of merchandise including baby items, balloons, plush toys, candy and games for children. Also available in a wide range of prices are fresh flowers, religious items, books, collectible dolls, the latest in fashion jewelry, gardening items and home decorating accessories ranging from western to French country.

The Gift Shop, which is a fund raising project of the Hospital Auxiliary, is open and staffed by volunteers Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 7 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 11AM to 4PM. Profit from gift shop sales, along with all other money raised by the Auxiliary, goes into a dedicated account to be gifted to the Medical Center in support of special projects that enhance the medical care available in our community.

Give us a call (208) 799-5318, or stop by for a delightful shopping experience. The Gift Shop provides free gift-wrapping and delivery to patients’ rooms. VISA, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted.

The Elizabeth Gift Shop
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center
415 6th Street, P.O. Box 816
Lewiston, ID 83501

Sandy White, Manager

2007-2008 Auxiliary Volunteer Officers

President - Mary Lou Gruber

President Elect - Peggy Flowers

Public Relations - Yvonne Pecora

Ways and Means - DeDe Grant

Recording Secretary - Gayle Favor

Corresponding Secretary - Peggy Hancock

Treasurer - Betty Riebe

Membership - Lonee Whitney

Social - Delores Smith

Toy Workshop - Itha Crozier

Gift Shop - Frankie Anderson

Newsletter - Jerry Myers

Scholarships - Patti Beach