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The Littleton Regional Hospital Auxiliary was founded in 1907. Its mission has been and will continue to be to support our Hospital and to help educate the community it serves.
During the first 50 years, Auxilians fulfilled this mission by having a large array of fundraisers and then purchasing much-needed equipment including the Hospital's first electric elevator. The money was also used to make repairs on the Hospital as well as the nurses' home (originally a nurses' training school until 1938) and purchase linens needed by the Hospital.
During the next 45 years, the Auxiliary still had the same mission, but in the 60's began to educate their membership and the community about the ever-changing health care services that were available, as well as about important legislative bills (both state and national) related to healthcare. To accomplish this new goal, physicians, hospital department heads, administrators and legislators were invited to address the auxilians at membership meetings.
The extremely successful community-wide Country Fair, sponsored by the auxiliary, began in 1961 and continued until 1989, earning nearly $300,000. It was discontinued due to lack of available space for the fair and because more and more auxilians were entering the workplace and had less time for labor intensive fundraisers.
Many more activities took place during the next few years including the Car Seat Program, the Gift Case (which grew into The Gingham Goose Gift Shop and has most recently been named The Moose Ledge Gift Shop), the annual Holiday Luncheon and Fashion Show, Evening Under the Stars Dinner Dance, the Rubber Duck Race and the Memory Tree, to name a few.
In 1963, the Auxiliary began to award scholarships to graduating seniors interested in the medical field as well as to Hospital employees who wished to further their careers. These scholarships have been meaningful to the Auxiliary as well as the recipient and are another way the Auxiliary supports the Hospital.
Many families have given generously to the Auxiliary in memory of a loved one. Recently the Anna Connors Memorial Book Collection was started as a result of donations by her family and friends. Mrs. Connors was a longtime member and past President of the Auxiliary Board. This lending library offers a wide variety of books and other resources on Women's Health issues and is available to the public as well as auxilians and Hospital employees.
Another recent gift was a lovely tea service given in memory of Richard Bennick's mother. The tea service is used annually at the Auxiliary's silver service tea and the rest of the year resides in a cabinet in the Hospital's main lobby for all to enjoy.
Several members of our Auxiliary have served as Board members in the New Hampshire Association of Hospital Auxiliaries, which is an organization that brings hospital Auxilians throughout the state together for educational meetings. Two of our Auxiliary members have served as President of this state organization.
More recently, Celebrity Waiters Night has become the Auxiliary's largest fundraiser each year. Other new fundraisers include the book sale and art sale, which are held at the Hospital and open to the public.
The Auxiliary has recently begun to videotape speakers at their membership meetings and offer them to the public through our local cable access station. As we head into the 21st century, the Auxiliary will continue to find new ways to support the Hospital and to help educate community members.
To find out more about the Littleton Regional Hospital Auxiliary or to become a member, please send a letter of inquiry to Littleton Regional Hospital Auxiliary, 600 St. Johnsbury Road, Littleton, NH 03561.
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