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ENHANCING PATIENT CARE
Left: Twig members with Judy Schmidt, CRED, ENHANCING RN, MSN, ONC, CCRN, president of the CMC Auxiliary (center). Above, top to bottom: Twig members and shop volunteers enjoy the Annual May Tea. Auxilians at the first May Tea in 1956. PATIENT CARE in requests. Currently, CMC’s wish list NOTE: These photos were taken before mask and social distancing recommendations were in place. THREE LOCAL GROUPS ARE RAISING CRITICAL FUNDS includes stethoscopes, a treadmill for the cardiac rehabilitation program, FOR COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER. an intercom system for the cardiac catheterization lab and audiovisual
The Community Medical Center holds a Strawberry Festival at the Holiday equipment for nursing education. (CMC) Auxiliary has been City clubhouse. Each year, the twigs raise The twigs also participate in special raising funds for the hospital about $60,000 for the hospital. events, such as the Tree of Life, which is since 1954. At the time, there were 19 This year, due to the COVID-19 held at CMC in early December. People local “twigs” (groups of fundraisers). pandemic, the events were postponed, donate lights for the tree in memory Today, there are three twigs—Sycamore, and the twigs are developing virtual of a loved one, and twig members sing White Pine and Holly, which are events. They organized a “bakeless bake Christmas carols. Perhaps the most composed of Toms River residents. The sale,” in which members were asked to meaningful event is the May Tea, in which Holly group is the largest twig, with 45 donate the money they would typically twig members are treated to a special members. The Sycamore group has 13 spend on the bake sale to the hospital. lunch and the CEO thanks them for members, and the White Pine group has their contributions. During this event, 20 members. Each twig meets monthly, as MEETING THE twig members traditionally present the does the full Auxiliary board. HOSPITAL’S NEEDS hospital with a check, which ranges from
The Auxiliary runs the hospital thrift Every April, the twigs ask CMC $50,000 to $75,000 per year. The twigs shop, Second Time Around, and the gift department heads what items they recently pledged $90,000 to the hospital shop, which raise funds for CMC. The need for patients or caregivers, and the each year for five years. Their pledge will twigs hold fundraising events throughout hospital gives them a “wish list.” “We support the “Transforming CMC” capital the year, such as bake sales and vendor grant about 90 percent of the items,” says campaign, says Jennifer A. Shufran, sales. Local companies sell items such as Judy Schmidt, CRED, RN, MSN, ONC, Vice President of the CMC Foundation. jewelry, pillows, scrubs and purses, and CCRN, president of the CMC Auxiliary. “The twigs launched fundraising for the a portion of the proceeds goes toward “This is our community hospital, and hospital,” says Shufran. “We appreciate the Auxiliary and, ultimately, CMC. The we need to ensure that patients receive their consistent and vital contributions.” twigs also have their own unique events. quality clinical care For instance, the Sycamore group hosts a and amenities.” “Sail into Summer” cruise every June. The Since 2003, the twigs If you’d like to join a twig, contact the White Pine group runs vendor sales at the have funded more CMC Foundation at 732.557.8131 . hospital twice a year, and the Holly twig than $1.5 million