The Eastern Long Island Hospital Auxiliary has been chosen to receive the North Fork Chamber of Commerce’s annual Community Service of the Year Award. The North Fork Chamber will present the award at its sixth annual Snowflake Gala & Awards Ceremony later this month.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” auxiliary president Helene Fall said in an interview. “We are very appreciative of the NFCC recognizing the service of the auxiliary to the community. We are also happy to have been chosen along with Robert’s Jewelers [Business of the Year]. He’s been so supportive of the auxiliary for so many years.”
Fall hopes that the publicity surrounding the award will help educate people about what the auxiliary does and who they are.
“People need to understand that we’re not just a bunch of little old ladies and men,” says Fall. “Far from it. These are vibrant women and men who are retired, for the most part. They were social workers, teachers, financial planners, library directors, city managers, purchasing agents, publishers, nurses, a college professor. Don’t judge a book by its cover. We’re so much deeper than that. We’re not here just to occupy our time, because you know in today’s world there are many different things that you can choose to do. We are committed to this hospital, to continuing the vibrancy of ELIH. We have a vested interest in this place.“
Since its humble beginnings, the auxiliary — which predates the hospital and was originally formed to purchase supplies — has grown into a vital source of revenue for ELIH. In 2016 its three branches, the East End/Shelter Island, Southold West and TWIGS, raised over $400,000 through the Opportunity Shop, the Corner Shop and fundraisers. Over the last 30 years the auxiliary has raised an estimated $6 million to $7 million, according to ELIH Foundation’s executive director Linda Sweeney.
Auxiliary members also provide support to the hospital administration, the nursing office, the emergency room, and radiology. And when you arrive at the hospital, it is an auxiliary volunteer who greets you with a smile.
The auxiliary has roughly 200 members, although fewer than half are active. Over the years the numbers have dwindled, leaving the group shorthanded and having to recruit volunteers. Although there is no one reason for the declining membership, Sweeney thinks it may have something to do with the changing demographic of the work force.
“A lot of older women are still working full-time, whereas years ago they weren’t. A lot of them still have to work and I think that plays a big part in the falling numbers of volunteers,” she says. “But I can’t stress enough the importance of the volunteers. The administrative help they give is priceless. They go around to each area of the hospital and provide service for them. And the amount of work they do at the Opportunity Shop, getting that merchandise in, unbagging it, pricing it, putting it out on the floor, moving things around.”
Auxiliary members are a proud and dedicated group of people, as evidenced by Toni DeMeo, the team’s longest serving member with 21,000 volunteer hours in 30 years. She is a past president, chair of volunteer services for the Corner Shop and a past recipient of the Women of Distinction award. She is affectionately known as “The Boss.”
Her dedication to service has been more rewarding than she’d ever thought possible.
“Nobody talks about what individuals get as a result of volunteering. They get friendships. That person joins a group of excellent women. I’ve found in my years on this job the satisfaction of being part of something fantastic,” says DeMeo.
Auxiliary president Helene Fall points out that joining the auxiliary upon retirement is a good way to get involved and do positive things. “It’s a great way to meet people,” she says.
Joan Zaleski, chair of the Opportunity Shop adds, “We are very welcoming. Sometimes people think it’s like a closed organization but it’s not. We have no secret handshake.”
Although many auxiliary members are retirement age, there are opportunities for younger people as well. High school students between the ages of 15 and 18 are eligible to volunteer their time in several departments of the hospital and, as Fall points out, it gives students a great experience, particularly if they want to enter the field of medicine.
“And you’re never too old to volunteer,” adds Zaleski. “One of our best workers at the Opportunity Shop is 90 years old. Everybody adores him.”
For information on becoming a member of the ELIH Auxiliary, visit their website.
Note: This story was edited for clarity.
