Since the renaming of St. Andrews Hospital as St. Andrews Campus and the changing of the activities available in the building, many people have asked about the role of St. Andrews Hospital Auxiliary, and where the money the Auxiliary earns in the St. Andrews Thrift Shop goes.

Before the October 1, 2013 changes at the medical facility, a committee of the Board of the Auxiliary changed the organization’s name and by-laws to reflect the medical facility changes and to broaden the category of constituencies available to receive gifted funding. These changes were adopted during the Auxiliary’s membership meeting in October, 2013.

The good news is that the Thrift Shop is still thriving. Additional good news is that other organizations contributing to good health of our friends and neighbors are now eligible to receive Auxiliary money.

In 2013 the St. Andrews Auxiliary distributed its money to the following organizations: $25,000 to the Boothbay Region Ambulance Service, $11,864 in scholarships to students studying in health related fields or pursuing updates in certification, $2,000 for LifeFlight, $3,835 for Home Health, $10,491 to St. Andrews Village, $15,462 to the Wellness/Rehab at St. Andrews Campus, $1,000 to the District Nurse, $200 to St. Andrews Mammography, $500 for Gregory Wing patients Christmas gifts, and $10,000 to the Tufts Medical School Program that trains doctors locally. These gifts total $80,352.

The ongoing earnings at the St. Andrews Thrift Shop continue to be given as the need arises. For example, scholarship applications are considered as they are received and are awarded as merited and if money is available.

The new mission statement of the St. Andrews Auxiliary is, “Our mission is to assist through volunteering services and direct cash donation, the two campuses of St. Andrews as well as other Boothbay Region 501c3 healthcare services in the collective objective to provide the highest standards of medical care and treatment to the peoples of the Boothbay Region.”

All persons are invited to join this organization, first organized in 1952, and to participate in this worthy endeavor. Stop in at the St. Andrews Thrift Shop in the Meadow Mall for an application.