BIGFORK VALLEY VOLUNTEERS

In July 1938 the Articles of Incorporation for a hospital association in Bigfork were signed. That fall, construction began on an eight bed facility - the first in the remote area.

That fall also saw the formation of the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary.

Today Bigfork has a 20 bed hospital and an extended health care campus. The original hospital has a different life as the Riverside Home; but the hospital auxiliary remains as an organization of volunteers who step in where needed to provide an escort, a scholarship, an extra piece of equipment to the hospital or even just a smile to an anxious patient.

And they have fun doing it.

“We’re all very proud of our facility,” said Karen Bottomley. It’s fun, she said, to go into the hospital where many are or have become friends. Bottomley has been one of the “Pink Ladies,” the volunteers that wear pink jackets and are often at the front desk to greet patients and provide information. They may also provide an escort to nursing home patients who have been at appointments in the clinic.

Last year volunteers logged in 1700 hours at the desk. But there are other places in the hospital where their presence can be felt as well. Last year the group purchased an emergency room medical cart, two lounge chairs for Adult Day Stay clients and a lift chair that would be placed where needed.

Recently the auxiliary helped with the purchase of trauma mannequins which will allow doctors and staff to hone their skills at managing emergency situations with lifelike simulations.

“Our volunteers are special to us,” said Dan Odegaard, CEO. “They are the group that we turn to when we need that little extra help, and they are always there with a smile.”

In fact, some of the staff themselves are in a health care career with the encouragement of a scholarship from the auxiliary. For many years the group has provided scholarship funds of up to $1,500, often matched by the hospital, for local people who want to go into a medical career. The expectation is that when their education is completed, recipients will return for at least a year to work at Bigfork Valley in their field. In fact, said auxiliary member Janice Evensen, there are those who started with the help of a scholarship and ended up retiring after a full career at Bigfork Valley.

Last year three $500 scholarships were awarded to students in the registered nurse program; Jan Drescich, Lin Lawler and Spring LeFevre. Applications for scholarships are due July 1.

How does the auxiliary raise the money to donate scholarships and equipment? Fifty cents at a time.

The big fund raiser for the group is the annual Bigfork Arts and Crafts Fair the first Friday in August. For an admission of fifty cents, browsers can visit a large number of booths featuring a variety of quality craftwork from furniture to weavings and from hand made soaps to hand carved loons.

The fair often features special events; last year there was a quilt show and the year before a book sale. But there is always a bake sale, although only prompt visitors may know about it, pointed out Joyce Kraska, auxiliary president. “Ladies up here are just wonderful cooks,” she said. Often the baked goods may be sold out in the first couple of hours.

There’s another chance for those with a sweet tooth at an annual cookie sale in December. The auxiliary hosts a cookie sale table in the hospital lobby before the holidays to raise money for small gifts for the nursing home residents.

There’s a wide variety of ways that volunteers can help with the hospital needs. Members of the auxiliary can do as much as they want, said Kraska, as well as joining the group on the third Wednesday of each month for a meeting during lunch at a local restaurant.

Requirements for membership are easy: the members love people and want to do something for the community, Kraska said. “The community is our family, and we’re taking care of our family.”