The Rotary Club of Warren met Tuesday for its weekly meeting inside First United Methodist Church with Rotarian Marnette George presenting Linda Gardner of the Bradley County Medical Center Auxiliary as her program. Gardner talked about the BCMC Auxiliary as a whole and what they have done the last few years as COVID made things difficult. The “Pink Ladies” as they are affectionately known as around the hospital have several projects they do to help BCMC, even though as Gardner pointed out, their new jackets are now blue instead of the usual pink. She explained that because of COVID almost all activity inside BCMC stopped, which forced the closing of the Gift Shop inside the hospital. However, the Auxiliary opened up a Thrift Store at the BCMC Brunson Complex prior to COVID and has seen tremendous success with that as they have raised $52,000 in the four years of its existence. All of that money goes towards helping the hospital that has included shower chairs for Senior Care, new phlebotomy chairs for the Laboratory Department, new doors at the BCMC Rural Health Clinic, and will help purchase more computers for training purposes hopefully soon among many other worthwhile projects over the years. Gardner also talked about the stuffed animals they do for kids who visit the hospital, particularly the ER. They purchase supplies with the money and have someone who makes custom stuffed animals to help the kids during their hospital stays. Gardner also mentioned that the Auxiliary ladies are starting to come back into the hospital to help with waiting rooms and other projects as they were accustomed to pre-COVID. She closed by answering a few questions and wanted the community to know they need your items to help stock the Thrift Store. They do not take used clothes, only new clothes with the tags still attached, but they accept almost everything else including kitchen appliances, outdoor tools, kitchenware, bed frames, furniture, and more. The Thrift Shop is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday and is located at the Brunson Complex at 204 N. Bragg Street.
Top photo: (from L to R) of BCMC Auxiliary Member Linda Gardner and Rotarian Marnette George
