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PMC Recognizes and Honors Its Volunteers

Humor writer Erma Bombeck said, “Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another.”

The Parrish Medical Center (PMC) Auxiliary (volunteers) are no different, and we celebrate them during National Healthcare Volunteer Week, April 15–21, 2012.

PMC’s auxilians are a large part of our care partner group of employees, physicians and auxiliary. With more than 400 members, our auxilians are an integral part of the PMC family. They generously donate their time and talents because they want to help make a difference in other people’s lives. About 50 local teens volunteer alongside mostly senior adults—those who have retired from their “jobs,” but not from life.

The PMC Auxiliary has been helping in the hospital for more than 50 years. Formed shortly after the first hospital was built, even then these dedicated community members saw the need and responded. At the September 2011 volunteer celebration, 61 auxilians were recognized for having given 144,150 total hours of service over their volunteer tenure, which is equal to 358 years of volunteer service to PMC.

Auxilians work in almost every area of PMC and its family of off-site facilities and services. They also help at events throughout the year, sponsor Breakfast With Santa and the annual Gift of Light celebration during the holidays. They manage PMC’s Lifeline program. With 400 units in service in North Brevard, Lifeline supplies a vital emergency connection for North Brevard residents who have medical problems or live alone.

The PMC Auxiliary earns money through its Pink Angle Gift Shop and other fund-raising events during the year. But the Auxiliary doesn’t keep the money they make from these endeavors for themselves. It’s donated back to PMC in the form of programs, services and equipment that support PMC’s mission and vision.

In recent years the PMC Auxiliary has pledged and/or donated $75,000 to The Children's Center, $300,000 to the Children's Center Futures Fund, and $150,000 to the Parrish Medical Center Donation account. They award approximately $20,000 in scholarships yearly to high school and college students in the North Brevard County Hospital District who are pursuing a degree in a human health-related field. They also donated the baby grand piano that sits in the hospital atrium and brings enjoyment throughout the year as volunteer musicians share their musical talents.

Current PMC Auxiliary officers are President Bill Terry, President-Elect Pat Mullins, Vice President Edith Pierce, Secretary Evelyn Fisher, and Treasurer Peggy Cochran.