Monroe County Hospital & Clinics Auxiliary & The Look Nook
The Monroe County Hospital & Clinics Auxiliary is a volunteer organization formed in 1956 that raises funds and provides services not only for Monroe County Hospital & Clinics, but also to the public. The group is comprised of community members who dedicate their time and effort to enhance the hospital and clinic’s ability to serve patients and the surrounding area.
The Look Nook is a small and quaint gift shop filled to the brim with seasonal home decor, greeting cards, jewelry, baby items, personal items, candles, bakeware and dishware, books, puzzles, locally made items, giftable treasures, snacks, and much more! It truly is a hidden gem! And…ALL purchases made at The Look Nook are TAX FREE!
Location
The Look Nook is located inside Monroe County Hospital & Clinics across from the Infusion Center. Enter through the North entrance.
Who works at The Look Nook?
Auxiliary volunteers! Auxiliary members share work shifts in The Look Nook gift shop, for a good portion of their volunteer service hours. Many of the Auxiliary members will tell you that becoming a volunteer is one of the most worthwhile, and often unexpectedly enriching, experiences they have ever had, or that it is easy to “fill-in and fit-in” volunteer time here.
There are no required number of hours that must be given, but the general understanding is that everyone helps by pitching in to do their part. Sometimes a volunteer role will change; they will start off as a volunteer in The Look Nook, but also become greeters, confidantes, and even counselors when someone is having a hard time. A lot of volunteers enjoy sharing special moments with patients and customers. Being a volunteer is sharing things and offering human connections that are missing in the rest of the world.
Ultimately, the goal of an auxiliary member is to raise money to help the hospital but gain so much more in the work we do with one another and the public. Compassion and goodwill ambassadorship is a common thread that is shared.
What is purchased with money earned?
All proceeds help purchase equipment and needs for Monroe County Hospital & Clinics, funding senior scholarships, and community projects. The Auxiliary relies solely on fundraising efforts, as well as gift shop sales and monetary donations to fund various projects. Some recent purchases and donations include blanket warmers, automatic external defibrillators, bed for rehabilitation therapy, centrifuge for laboratory, vital signs monitors, bladder scanner, visitors’ free library cart, clinic power exam table, temporal thermometers, convection oven, cookware (industrial), surgical mayo stand, CSR wrap rack, waiting room recliner, digital column scale, BAPS therapy system, emergency EQ 10, nightstands, audiometer/tympanometry, physical therapy stabilization system, surgical ice and water dispenser, benches, goodie bags for children, vice for maintenance, digital scales, rollaway beds, ice cream cart, storage racks, and much more!
The Auxiliary also gifts others in the Albia community including college scholarships for high school seniors in Monroe County, auction donations for the Welcome Home Soldier Memorial, and MCHC Foundation Glow Ball Tournament prize donations.
Hours
Monday–Friday: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Questions?
If you have any questions or need help, our auxiliary members are happy to help! The process is simple and anyone is welcome. Please contact the MCHC Volunteer Coordinator at 641-932-1779, or Bev Gray, Auxiliary President, at 641-777-5938. Meeting are held every first Wednesday of the month beginning at 2:00 pm at Monroe County Hospital & Clinics, conference rooms A & B (North entrance).
