For over 100 years, the mission and commitment to the community and medical center in Albert Lea remains the same. Founded in 1909, the Naeve Hospital Auxiliary started with a simple request by the City and County Hospital Association for an auxiliary to be organized for their new hospital.

“Meetings were held in member homes and efforts were directed towards establishing the hospital,” saik Diane Damerow, Naeve Hospital Auxiliary volunteer. “In addition to dues, early fundraising projects included bake sales, rummage sales, tag days and a much-anticipated charity ball. The auxiliary had raised $2,500 by 1909 to purchase silverware, dishes, blankets, curtains and operating room equipment for the hospital. They also cleaned the building, sewed and hung curtains before the hospital opened in February 1912.”

To this day, the Naeve Hospital Auxiliary is still an integral part of the community and medical center. 

“Our service to patients and their families has expanded, providing caring hand massages to patients and families, helping patients register for appointments, knitting stocking caps for babies, leading first grade tours, socializing and serving refreshments in the Cancer Center, sewing and donating fleece blankets to comfort patients, organizing and distributing magazines to the waiting areas and helping with vaccine clinics and other hosting opportunities,” Damerow said.

In 2017, volunteers provided 10,432 hours of service valued at over $200,000.

“In addition to volunteer hours, we give back to the medical center with a monetary donation. Through fundraising efforts, coffee shop and gift shop sales we’ve gifted over $100,000 in 2018,” Damerow said.  “We have a direct impact on patient care with our annual donation. This year’s efforts have given us the opportunity to fund the purchase of a training mannequin for staff education, patient care carts, exam tables for general surgery and bariatric care, navigation system for ear, nose and throat surgeries, exam chairs, scale, Star Tribune subscription for Cancer Center waiting room and a camera for the Eye Center.”

Damerow says if want to make an impact in the health of our community, they should volunteer. 

“I have been a volunteer with the Naeve Hospital Auxiliary since 2004. My favorite part of belonging to this group is getting to know the patients and my fellow auxiliary members. Being a part of this group and volunteering with the auxiliary is a way for me to help others,” Damerow said.

New members are always welcome. There will be a meet-and-greet reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 13 in the lower level rotunda at Mayo Clinic Health System, 404 W. Fountain St. in Albert Lea. The event is free and refreshments will be served. Auxiliary volunteers and committee members will be available to answer questions.