St. Andrews Auxiliary convened their annual All-Member Meeting Oct. 18 at the Harbor Theater. After an opening social with fall décor, a preview of their new Auxiliary movie ad on the big screen and apple themed refreshments, the membership got down to business by greeting their guests representing many parts of the medical community.

Since 1952, the all-volunteer, 130+ strong membership has been raising funds for medical equipment, services and medical related scholarships.  The generator for most of this revenue comes from the operation of the newly expanded St. Andrews Auxiliary Thrift Shop.  The shop is open six days a week and staffed by shifts of dedicated volunteers, managed by Carole McCarthy.

Auxiliary Treasurer Paula Endicott presented this year’s annual gift to LincolnHealth for $98,500. LincolnHealth Director of Philanthropy, Reven Oliver accepted the check designated in part for the St. Andrews Urgent Care Operating Budget, and Workplace Violence/Safety Remediations. St. Andrews Village received funds for a Blanket Warmer Cabinet for Skilled Nursing and holiday gifts for patients in the Gregory Wing and Safe Havens. $7,500 worth of specialized equipment for the Lincoln Medical Partners Women’s Center and Opthalmology Dept. were included as well as $10,000 for the MRI Project, $15,000 for the Tufts Program bringing doctors to Maine, $10,000 for the Nursing School, $10,000 for NICHE Education (Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders) and School Based Community Health for Boothbay High School - $5,000.

Scholarship Chair Linda Redman reported that ten scholars received $24,240 over the past year. She also shared personal notes of appreciation from several recipients.  

Other donations included: 

Boothbay Region Ambulance Service: $10,000 

Boothbay Region District Nurse Assoc.: $6,500 

New Hope (family crisis services): $3,000 

Featured speaker for the event was Pam Hepburn, LincolnHealth Director Of Diagnostic Imaging at Miles Campus. She explained the improvements made in medical imaging technology and patient access due to the MRI Project which the Auxiliary has supported with $20,000 over the past two years.

Retiring Auxiliary President, Laura Zajdel highlighted the organization’s annual report challenges during her four-year term; COVID, maintaining volunteer involvement and traditions in new spaces and the recent (successful) Auxiliary audit by the IRS.  Auxiliary accomplishments included helping to staff the Boothbay Y Covid Clinic with volunteers, communications - bringing public awareness to their mission of service to the medical community, successful use of social media, introducing credit card use,  expanding a thrift shop which has become a destination for shoppers across the state, winning the 2022 Maine Governor’s Award – Outstanding Volunteer Program and most recently, receiving the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce Award – Most Notable Nonprofit 2023.  

The Auxiliary elected a new slate of officers to lead them through the next two years: Gloria Wakefield – president; Irene Fowle – recording secretary; Mary Lou Newstead – corresponding secretary; and Amy Bykowski – treasurer.

St. Andrews Auxiliary always welcomes new members and invites those interested to visit our Volunteer Corner at the front of our Thrift Shop.  St. Andrews Auxiliary – All Volunteer! Follow us on Facebook (St. Andrews Auxiliary – Thrift Shop) or You Tube – St. Andrews Auxiliary.