Mahaska Health Partnership Hospital Auxiliary to Close Snack Bar
Mahaska Health Partnership
OSKALOOSA – The Mahaska Health Partnership Hospital Auxiliary has operated the Auxiliary Snack Bar and Gift Shop since 1965. Sadly, on Jan. 6, 2012, they decided to discontinue the snack bar portion of the operation.
“Our group is committed to fundraising for MHP and affects the lives of the patients we serve. Money we raise is used to purchase medical equipment and support MHP services,” Auxiliary Co-Chair Joan Benscoter said. “In the past few years, the Snack Bar has become less profitable and it has been difficult to find volunteers to staff it.”
The Auxiliary Snack Bar and Gift Shop began in 1965 when the hospital opened a new wing. “This decision was not made lightly because the Snack Bar has been a long standing tradition. We have many volunteers whose mothers also worked in the Snack Bar so it is near and dear to a lot of people.”
Benscoter explained that although the Gift Shop will remain, it has been closed temporarily. “With anticipation for the new wing that MHP is adding and our eventual move to that location, we want to take some time to re-group and revitalize the gift shop.
“Over the next few months, we’ll be remodeling and looking for exciting new products to offer our customers. We look forward to opening again in the spring,” Benscoter said.
The MHP Hospital Auxiliary was formed in 1955 and remains a very strong funding source.
Current members volunteer for and coordinate many successful events including the Auxiliary purse and jewelry sales, plant sales, as well as book and uniform sales. “It has always been our goal to support MHP and their patients any way we can,” Benscoter shared. “We will still continue with our annual events as well as the gift shop and look forward to discovering new opportunities to support MHP’s healthcare mission.”
The closing of the MHP Auxiliary Snack Bar ends 47 years of tradition. The Auxiliary Board wishes to thank the Auxiliary members who have volunteered their time and talents over the years. “The service of the volunteers is so appreciated,” Benscoter said. “We have had a good run and now we’ll start making plans for our future.”
For more information about the MHP Hospital Auxiliary or becoming a member, contact Kim Langfitt at 672-3342.
