Staff Report
The volunteer members of the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Auxiliary provided 13,500 hours of service during 2018 to the hospital.
The organization, founded in 1962, has members volunteering in six service areas including hospital front desk, ambassadors, surgical services, emergency department and van drivers, as well operating the popular New to You Shop at 1689 Oak St. in downtown Solvang.
“We are so grateful to all of these volunteers who selflessly share their time, talents, care and, most of all, compassion,” said hospital Vice President Wende Cappetta. “These Auxiliary volunteers are an integral part of our hospital, providing thousands of hours of support each year.”
At the annual “Thank You Picnic” held recently at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum, auxiliary members were honored for their cumulative hours of service volunteerism.
Recognition pins and charms were given to 37 volunteers who had achieved specific levels of service during 2018. Charms recognizing cumulative lifetime service were bestowed to Judy Duffy for 5,000 hours; Kathy Erb for 4,000 hours, Lois Mark for 3,000 hours, JoAnn Taylor for 2,500, and Barry Kuntz and Janice Kuntz for 2,000 hours. Additional charms as well as pins signifying 100, 400, 700, 1,000 and 1,500 hours or more of service were also awarded.
New auxiliary members are always needed and welcomed. For more information about auxiliary membership and volunteering, contact Martine Surey at 805-686-3971 or msurey@sbch.org.
The hospital’s volunteer website page has more information at http://www.cottagehealth.org/santa-ynez-valley-cottage-hospital/volunteer .
