BBGH Auxiliary excited about Gift Box location in hospital’s new addition

Box Butte General Hospital Auxiliary President Shari Harris (second from left) and past President Pat Nelson (at right) were thrilled to have the opportunity to look at the large room in the new hospital addition that will house the Gift Box. The Gift Box is the main revenue generator for the Auxiliary in its mission to provide monetary support to the hospital. Giving the tour were Assistant Superintendent Noah Thelen (at left) and Project Manager Jim Bargen (third from left).

There are still several months to go before the Box Butte General Hospital Auxiliary can move into their Gift Box location in the new addition to BBGH. They are excited nonetheless and are already shopping for new items to offer the public when it opens sometime in October.

Auxiliary President Shari Harris and past President Pat Nelson were able to have a sneak peek of the new location recently, with Project Manager Jim Bargen and Assistant Superintendent Noah Thelen providing information about the new Gift Box as well of a quick tour of the first floor of the addition. “The new Gift Box will be more than twice as large as the old one,” Mr. Bargen said. “The Auxiliary will have a display area and storage space totaling 670 sq. feet, compared to the 280 sq. feet their current location has.”

Ms. Nelson ‘manages’ the Gift Box, being the primary person ordering stock for the store, as well as keeping track of staffing hours and bookkeeping. “It’s not only the extra room that has us excited, it’s also the location,” she said. “It’s right off what will be the main entrance to the hospital when it opens, with large windows. It’s going to be so much better than our current Gift Box, which was so small it couldn’t hold more than a few people shopping at a time. You almost felt claustrophobic. Now items will be spread out for better display and plenty of room for customers to roam.”

She said the extra shelving and storage will obviously mean more merchandise will be available. “But we’re being cautious on ordering new items,” Ms. Nelson said. “I’d like to get our entire current inventory into the new location first to see how much room we have to add additional items. We are looking at offering fresh flowers in partnership with a local floral shop since a lot of people have requested them, but we aren’t sure about that as yet. Flowers don’t last long and need expensive coolers. We’ll see if it’s feasible. We’ve been asked to carry more clothing for the general population as well, and adding more unique beverages. We’d also like add more Restore products, which are very popular.”

The Gift Box is the main revenue generator for the BBGH Auxiliary, according Ms. Harris. “We have other fund raising sources, such as our Home Tour event each fall and our Quilt and Chest auction we hold during the Holiday Bazaar at the end of the year. Our membership fees also contribute to our mission to provide monetary assistance to the hospital for various projects. But it’s the Gift Box that raises most of the money.”

Asked how much the Auxiliary has donated to the hospital (most recently through the Box Butte Health Foundation), the two Auxiliary members said the Auxiliary has donated over $250,000 since the hospital was built in 1976. “There were some very lean years and the Auxiliary was an important resource for the hospital at times,” Ms. Harris said. “We’ve helped fund everything from medical equipment to guest books placed in patient rooms giving general information about the hospital and resources. Last year we donated $25,000 to the BBHF for the new addition.”

The Auxiliary currently has around 225 members, ranging from those who pay a $5.00 annual active membership (active defined as actively volunteering as greeters, Gift Box staff, etc.); a $10.00 annual fee for inactive membership; and a $100 life time membership fee. “We have men and women belonging to the Auxiliary, and we’re always happy to see new members join,” Ms. Harris said.

Being a member of the Auxiliary is a fulfilling experience. “I’ve been a member for about 10 years,” Ms. Nelson said. “I’ve said this many times: I thoroughly enjoy it and get more out of being a member than I’ll every be able to give. It’s a feeling that you’re doing something worthy for your community. And being so involved in the Gift Box operations is a perfect fit, since I love to shop.”

Ms. Harris, who has been a member for nearly four years, echoed those comments. “I agree,” she said. “I think people who belong find it worthwhile and that they are helping their community by helping out the hospital, which is so important in providing medical care to our community and a large area around Alliance. It’s nice to be a part of that.”

To become a member of the BBGH Auxiliary, call Marlene Mischnick at 762-4558.

Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer.