At the core, the mission of both the Cabell Huntington Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center auxiliaries is better patient care. That looks like everything from providing funds for combs and candy to renovations and major equipment.
Like the name implies, both volunteer organizations provide extra help and support for the hospitals they serve. In fact, the Auxiliaries are officially the largest donors for the Marshall Health Network Foundations. They are separate entities of each other, of the Foundations, and of the Hospitals. Each facility’s auxiliary is a vital piece of their success, but not just in the way one might expect.
“I believe as important as the financial part is the patient experience,” said Cabell Huntington Hospital President Tim Martin. “They are the public-facing component. They are at the information desk and in the lobby. They are the first point of contact, and like that old saying goes, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. They are not employed here. They just have a passion and love to be here, and that drives their interaction with people, and it’s a selling point. When the first person you see loves to be here, it’s always good and creates a positive platform.”
The Auxiliaries consist of volunteers who want to serve in some way. They work in gift shops, help at information desks, and serve in various capacities in different departments.
“Better care for our patients. That’s the purpose,” said Pam Robinson, president of the St. Mary’s Medical Center Auxiliary. “The hospital has limited funds just like anyone else, and we help pick up the slack. We want to make sure that the patients have a better experience.”
St. Mary’s Medical Center President Angie Swearingen agreed.
“The St. Mary’s Medical Center Auxiliary is woven into the very fabric of who we are as an organization,” she said. “St. Mary’s was founded on a spirit of service, compassion, and community. When the Pallottine Missionary Sisters established St. Mary’s more than 100 years ago, they not only dedicated their own lives to caring for others, but they also embraced and encouraged volunteers in our community who shared that same commitment to serving patients and families. That spirit continues today through our Auxiliary in raising funds for important initiatives, they help create the welcoming and compassionate environment that has defined St. Mary’s for a century. Their contributions have helped fund programs, equipment, scholarships, and patient-centered initiatives that directly improve the care experience.”
In both cases, hospital administration, individual departments, physicians, or staff members, can request funds from its auxiliary. Each auxiliary carefully considers all requests and members vote on what projects and requests will receive support.
“It’s more than just come serve for an hour,” said Rev. Davana Marcum, president of the Cabell Huntington Hospital Auxiliary. “We are supporting Cabell Huntington, our community, and each other. When we put it all together, it’s like pouring gas on a flame. One person can do one thing and that’s great, but when we all come together, we can buy a million-dollar machine.”
The Auxiliaries are strictly fundraising organizations. You can volunteer at one of the hospitals without being an active member of the auxiliary; however, every auxiliary member is a volunteer. Both do that primarily through the gift shops, coffee shops, and vendor sales. Both auxiliaries have approximately 70 active members but are always happy to welcome more.
The list of projects and equipment that the Auxiliaries have provided is lengthy, but big purchases can include specialized equipment that can cost anywhere in the range of half a million to a million dollars. Projects have included department remodels, health and wellness programming for staff, bedside tray tables, warming blankets, memorial gifts, and much more. The Auxiliaries also provide financial support to other fundraising events and provide scholarships to some of the teen volunteers.
Robinson said one of her favorite things at St. Mary’s is the welcome cart, which is provided by the Auxiliary and includes simple things like toothbrushes, combs, and other small things that might help someone’s stay be a little more pleasant. She even shares that one patient requested a specific type of candy. After getting permission from her doctor, they were able to provide.
Robinson, a retired speech language pathologist, who has been volunteering at St. Mary’s for 11 years, said it’s wonderful to help provide big ticket items, but that’s not what motivates her the most.
“The thing is, it’s the little things,” she said. “It’s greeting someone when they come in the door. It’s getting someone an extra blanket or whatever makes them more comfortable. It’s the human touch and smiling. Smiling at people is huge and just being there.”
Like Robinson at St. Mary’s, Marcum has served in all sorts of ways at Cabell but found her favorite spot sitting with people at the end of life.
“This is another way for me to do ministry,” she said. “I’ve rocked babies and worked in the gift shop, but God has me doing this, so no one passes alone. It’s truly a blessing and an honor to be with people during their last days.”
The desire to serve and help is really the heartbeat of the Auxiliaries. They are happy to be behind-the-scenes support that makes bright futures possible. Marcum said the support goes beyond providing major equipment. What they’re really doing is taking away worry. When they can provide equipment that produces results quicker, it means patients can know and/or be treated sooner. It increases the odds of success, but it alleviates worry and that is huge.
“If they wait less, they worry less,” Marcum said. “Treatment is better. I can’t do that personally, but me with 70 others – we can have a greater impact. We need more hands to the plow. We want more people.”
Marcum said the Cabell Huntington Auxiliary Board is exploring ways to make it easier for people to get involved in ways that work for them. Simply put, she hopes that equals greater long-term benefits not just for the hospital, but the community.
“The hospital administrators, the Foundations, the volunteers, us, it’s all going to the same place we’re just taking different paths,” Marcum said. “We need each other. It’s a team effort.”
Martin agrees it is a team effort and says the Auxiliary is a huge support in many ways, but as much as anything they are a go-to for him.
“They make my job easier,” he said. “I’m just a glorified problem solver, and that’s an avenue I can turn to for help.”
Meanwhile, Swearingen said what the Auxiliary provides cannot be measured and quantified. It’s more than dollars and statistics.
“They remind us that healthcare is not just about just treating illness – it’s about caring for people,” she said. “As we celebrated St. Mary’s 100th anniversary in 2024, we reflected on the countless individuals who helped build and sustain this institution over the last century. The Pallottine Sisters laid the foundation, but generations of volunteers, Auxiliary members, donors, employees, physicians, and community supporters have helped carry that mission forward. The Auxiliary stands as one of the most visible and enduring examples of that legacy. Their service embodies the values that have defined St. Mary’s for 100 years: faith, compassion, service, and community. When people volunteer and become part of the Auxiliary, they become part of something much bigger than themselves. They become part of a century-long tradition of caring for our neighbors, supporting our caregivers, and helping ensure that St. Mary’s remains a place of healing, hope, and compassion for generations to come.”
Martin said they are valuable in terms of providing general community reconnaissance because they interact with the community. Their relationships with people provide avenues for feedback. As much as anything else, though, Martin said they make everyone around them better.
“Their intent is so pure. They want to give back,” he said. “To get to work and share time with that collective of people is just a pleasure and a privilege. They are such a gift, and it’s refreshing. I don’t have to look far for encouragement and motivation because theirs is contagious.”
