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Unity Point Auxiliary to host quilt raffle

Soliciting all kind of quilts

T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY - Members of the UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown Auxiliary are pictured displaying quits and other items recently near the “Tribute to Caregivers” statue not far from the hospital entrance at the downtown campus. The group has announced a Nov. 1 fundraiser which will feature quilts made by Central Iowans, among other items. Proceeds will help the auxiliary purchase wheelchairs for the Medical Park and downtown campus.

Nov. 1 is 121 days away.

But for those planning a volunteer-led fundraiser involving quilts, it is never too early to start.

That is the thinking of the all-volunteer UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown Auxiliary (formerly Friends of Central Iowa Healthcare) as they recently discussed plans for a Nov. 1 quilt-product raffle/auction to be held the UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown Medical Park directly across from Marshalltown Community College

Auxiliary members knew it was critical to get the word out “Save the Date” style, considering the planning, material collection and production time required in making quality quilt products, as well as lining up entertainment and other items necessary for a successful fund raiser.

The mission: Raise funds to purchase wheelchairs for the downtown campus and Medical Park by using the talents of many a Central Iowa quilter.

“We are asking quilters from Central Iowa to help the auxiliary by donating a quilted item or items to the auction/raffle,” Susan Eberhart of the auxiliary said.

“Our previous effort netted approximately $6,000, and those funds were used to purchase items to specifically benefit patients,” member Josette Peterson said.

The auxiliary will be working to make the 2018 quilt auction to be successful as one held last year.

“We will have a guest auctioneer, gift baskets, a silent auction, refreshments, and more, Eberhart said.

The quilt auction will not replace the annual chicken pot pie fundraising event.

In recent years, approximately 5,000 hand-made pies have been made by the auxiliary with help of hospital staff, and most sold or sold out.

For nearly 66 years, funds from auxiliary fundraising initiatives have been used to help purchase patient care-related items ranging from new ambulance, to free mammography’s for low-income residents to nursing scholarships.

The auxiliary also sponsors a CIH employee recognition event annually.

The auxiliary’s roots go back to the Evangelical Deaconess Hospital Auxiliary, established Nov. 1, 1952, according to T-R archives.

Later, the Mercy St. Thomas Hospital Auxiliary, formed Sept. 5, 1952, joined forces with The Evangelical Hospital’s Auxiliary (formerly Evangelical Deaconess Hospital Auxiliary) in 1970, when the two hospitals merged to become the Marshalltown Area Community Hospital.

In 1985, MACH became MMSC, and the organization was renamed MMSC Auxiliary.

MMSC evolved in Central Iowa Healthcare, and the group was renamed Friends of CIH.

CIH became UnityPoint Health Marshalltown May 1, 2017, and the group was re-named as UnityPoint Health Marshalltown Auxiliary.

Members are Becky Caster, Christina Cheville, Eberhart, Debi Estabrook, Karen Giarratano, Rena Holmes

Judy Lindholm, Anne Paullus, Peterson, Barb Rasmussen and Peggy Schoer.

For more information about the quilt auction, contact UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown Volunteer Coordinator Nora Byers, 641-754-5151, or Eberhart, 641-751-5507.

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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com

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