Stephens Co. Hospital Holds Love Light Program

love lighA holiday tradition kicks off the month of December at Stephens County Hospital.

Thursday night, the hospital held its 33rd annual Love Light Tree Lighting Ceremony.

The event is organized by the Stephens County Hospital Auxiliary, which is part of the Stephens County Hospital Foundation.

Stephens County Hospital Administrator Ed Gambrell said the volunteers who help make up the Hospital Auxiliary are just a wonderful group of people.

“It is a small group, but a wonderful group,” said Gambrell. “They work hard. They seem to enjoy themselves. They raise a lot of money for the hospital through the Foundation that we use to purchase items like we presented tonight at the program. They do so much, not just fundraising. They are at the front desk, they are on the floors, helping patients, helping employees. They do so many things every day.”

Also, the Love Light Tree Lighting each year serves as the culmination for the year-long Love Light fundraising campaign.

Through the campaign, the Auxiliary and Foundation raise money to go towards the purchase of equipment at the hospital.

This year, almost $29,000 was raised through the Love Light campaign.

Gambrell said that represents a very successful year.

“That, I think, is the most ever,” said Gambrell. “They have really had a great response from the community this year. They have several fundraising efforts throughout the course of the year and they really do well at those and it has been a very successful Love Light campaign this year.”

With that money this year, the hospital purchased items such as a special orthopedic chair, devices to help with airway access for patients, radiology cassettes, mannequins and television sets for training, and other items.

Also each year, the Love Light program recognizes an Auxilian.

This year’s program honored Elizabeth Hayes.

Gambrell said Hayes is an amazing individual.

“She is one of the treasures of Stephens County,” said Gambrell. “If you mention her name, everybody knows her or knows something about her. Of course, she turned 100 a couple of months ago, which is something to be proud of and was an Auxilian for 23 years. In fact, she was on the Auxiliary when I got here. She worked in a lot of different areas of the hospital. She worked over 4,000 hours here and she was an (Auxiliary) member up until four or five years ago.”

Hayes and her family also helped to light the Love Light tree out in front of the hospital.