Auxiliary

Astera Health’s Auxiliary consists of women and men who are interested in supporting our community’s health care system through service and fundraising.

“The feeling and endorphins your body produces
when you volunteer is equal to two martinis!”

– Dr. Dave Hunnicutt

Membership dues:

$10 (active) and $25 (contributing) and FREE to all Volunteers.

Active members can serve in ways best suited to their schedules, anywhere from planning fundraisers, helping with special events or serving as an Auxiliary Board member.

Although we encourage active membership, those who cannot become active members can be a contributing member. This means you will be kept informed of Auxiliary events and are welcome to attend our activities, but will not be called to volunteer.

We invite you to join us!

Information and membership applications can be obtained from the Information Desk at AH in Wadena.

Meeting Schedule

Meetings are every third Monday at noon from September-April at Astera Health.

Where does the money go?

All money raised by the Auxiliary, and all your generous Holiday Auction donations, are used to better serve our patients through equipment purchases, education, or scholarships. In the past several years, we have donated more than $10,000 annually to Astera and its patients.

Scholarships

In 2013, the Auxiliary gave their first $500 annual scholarship. Persons eligible for the scholarship are students entering their second year in a healthcare field with a tie to the AH services area.

Ten Reasons to Join the Auxiliary

1. A flexible volunteer opportunity! As a CONTRIBUTING member, your financial support is all that is needed. We will keep you updated on events and projects. As an ACTIVE member, we will work with you to tailor your volunteer time and style to fit your needs and those of the Astera Health Auxiliary.
2. A caring group that notes individual time requirements. This well-established organization realizes that your time is valuable and limited, so we offer a variety of commitments to suit your individual needs.
3. A great future opportunity. This diverse group is recognized as part of the healthcare team supporting the needs of the hospital and its communities.
4. An experienced group already in place. Enjoy being part of an established core group of dedicated ambassadors who serve Astera through fundraising and community education.
5. Financial success with family time. Reap the joy of giving financially to support projects that provide warmth and comfort for patients and visitors.
6. Location, location, location. We produce positive projects right in your own backyard.
7. Competitive compensation package. We offer personal growth, camaraderie, and opportunities for lifetime friendships.
8. Knowing your colleagues by name, while caring for strangers. Neighbors, church members, community leaders, co-workers, and even strangers will benefit from your commitment.
9. Excellent personal rewards. Feel good and get your endorphins pumping when you volunteer.
10. Small-town projects with unlimited potential. Our goals are limited only to our vision and creativity!

History of the Auxiliary

The history of the Astera Auxiliary dates back to 1925, when the organization was called Wesley Guild. At the monthly meetings, members did mending for the hospital, as well as sewing new items. A 10¢ lunch was served.

The many fund-raising methods included Vanishing Teas, collecting and selling old papers and magazines, white cross drives, and selling carrot pudding. Membership dues were $1 for active members and $10 for lifetime membership. Men were accepted as contributing members in both categories. Memberships were also solicited from former Wadena residents who might be interested in giving financial support to the “old home town.”

The guild also provided the hospital with such items as canned fruit, napkins, books, towels, toys, fresh eggs, wash rags, and flower vases – all of which were obtained by having showers at their monthly meetings. Besides the usual committees, the organization hosted a canning or delicacy committee, which in September of 1927 reported that 636 quarts of fruit and preserves had been canned during the summer.

Expenditures of interest noted in the records include $55 for a sewing machine, $10 for a gasoline lamp (to use in case the electricity went off), and payment for 100 loads of black dirt for the hospital grounds. In 1927, the Guild recorded $342 in annual memberships and 33 lifetime members. There are no more records of an active Guild or Auxiliary until 1957.

The Jaycettes, an auxiliary of the local Jaycees, disbanded their organization and were looking for ways to distribute their treasury. A Jaycette member, who was familiar with the many benefits a hospital auxiliary could bring to the community, suggested that perhaps a gift of money from the Jaycettes would facilitate formation of a hospital auxiliary in Wadena. After much contact within the community, the idea of such an organization was presented to the Hospital Board for their consideration. It was approved and encouraged. The purpose of the auxiliary centered on the fields of public relations, fund-raising, and health education. The first meeting of the Wesley Hospital Auxiliary was on April 2, 1957.