They greet guests with warm smiles at the hospital's reception desk.

They treat those coming to the hospital to fresh popcorn in the lobby and work in the gift shop, making many of the items themselves.

COURTNEY CASE/News Messenger (ENLARGE)

Hospital Auxiliary Members look over scrapbooks documenting the history of the Pink Ladies during the Hospital Auxiliary's 40th anniversary reception in the lobby of Good Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall Tuesday.

They are seen throughout the hospital — the ladies garbed in pink vests and the men sporting red ones — helping wherever needed.

To the general public, they are known as the Pink Ladies and Red Rovers of the Good-Shepherd Medical Center-Marshall Auxiliary. Some have logged in more than 500 hours — and have the badges to prove it. But, they do not do it for accolades or glory. They volunteer because they love to serve.

"We have ladies from all walks of life," said Karen Self, volunteer coordinator. "To me, it is such an honor to be able to work with these ladies because they are just fantastic. There's not two of them that are alike. They're all so different; they have different personalities. Some of them you have to have a hug from. Every time they see you, they have to hug you. It's a very, very good group."

The men, affectionately called Red Rovers, are admirable as well.

"They didn't want to be called 'Pink Men,' so they had to come up with something, so they came up with Red Rover," Ms. Self said teasingly. "They do a really good job at the hospital."

The volunteers gathered last Wednesday for punch, cookies and treats in celebration of the auxiliary's 40th anniversary. They laughed, browsed through scrapbooks and reflected on the importance of their duty.

"We're not an employee — we're doing extra," Sallie Gullion, a charter member, said of the group.

The auxiliary currently has about 55 active members that operate seven workstations throughout the hospital.

"Anyone can join," Ms. Self said, noting the auxiliary is open to all ages.

"We always need more volunteers," she said. "We man the gift shop, front desk, the surgery waiting room, the ICU waiting room, we have a book cart, we have workers in emergency — they help the nurses wherever they can."

Proceeds from the gift shop benefit the hospital and are designated wherever officials see fit. This past year, it was allocated for gift shop renovations.

"We wanted to present a nice, pleasant shopping experience," Ms. Self said, adding they painted it, brightened it up and added more displays. "It is so much better."

"We give like $20,000 to 25,000 each year to the hospital," historian Phyllis Melchert said.

The beginning

Ms. Gullion, who was the auxiliary's first president, was on hand Wednesday, reminiscing about the group's genesis.

"We wore cherry, cherry red pinafores (over the dresses)," she recalled, grinning when she recalled how the ladies were prohibited from wearing pants then.

Ms. Guillion, who has a medical background, and her husband, a doctor, was new in town when she approached the hospital's new administrator about the idea of creating a hospital auxiliary.

"I was at the hospital, working on the new switchboard," she said. "I wrote him a note and asked to start a hospital auxiliary."

That was in 1968. Twenty years prior to that, there had been a group of doctors' wives, who started a hospital auxiliary, but it disbanded.

Being from the Dallas area where hospitals had active volunteer groups, Ms. Guillion figured it would be beneficial for Marshall.

The administrator considered it and finally gave her the OK. From there, she along with fellow charter members Virginia Cope and Mary Lee Bennett worked on organizing the group, which was officially formed on Oct. 29, 1969. Other charter members included Carol Hall, Joan Jones, Geraldine Smith, Carolyn Sullivan and Kay Tuttle.

"We spent 13 months getting it organized," she said. The ladies met often at People State Bank's activity room to write the group's by-laws.

From there, the ladies began working, adding in areas where they saw the hospital lacked.

"I got a cart built for things we wanted to take to the rooms — funny books, games, magazines and snacks," Ms. Gullion recounted. "Not to many years later, we got a little corner for a gift shop."

The group also provided a bench outside of the emergency room for relatives because the room lacked seating. Ms. Guillion also drew the hospital's first map providing internal directions, according to the group's newsletter, Pink Link.

The group started acting as liaisons between surgeons and relatives of surgical patients. Eventually, an auxiliary station was manned outside the emergency room. And, Ms. Guillion and her husband, Dr. Jerry Gullion, began the campaign that led to the addition of the first Intensive Care Unit for then-Marshall Memorial.

The group has meant so much to the hospital and has been a labor of love for the volunteers.

"I have filled about every place in here," said Dapha Grubb.

The 85-year-old has been a member of the auxiliary since 1992, starting out in the emergency room and moving to the ICU room, front desk and gift shop.

"I just wanted to go outside the house to do (something)," she said.

Frances Machette, 78, also enjoys volunteering.

"She has put her heart and soul" in the organization, Ms. Gullion said.

Ms. Machette, who is a past president, started volunteering on Valentine's Day in 1994. The former nurse enjoyed working in the medical field and wanted to give back by volunteering.

"I like being around people," she said. "Now, you can go anywhere in this hospital and they'll know who I am. I enjoy meeting people."

She works most of her time in the gift shop, making fresh flower arrangements and baby gifts.

"I have no brothers or sisters — this is my extended family," she said of the auxiliary.

Ms. Machette is proud of the baby gifts she makes that are sold inside of the gift shop, including door bows for newborns and baby bonnets.

"I make these out of handkerchiefs," she said, brandishing a bonnet. "You don't find too many people that make these."

Sammie Sutton has been volunteering since she retired from the teaching profession.

"I didn't want to retire and stay home and do nothing," she said. One can find her mostly in the ICU waiting room.

J.W. Cade, started volunteering about six years ago. He was influenced by his wife, Vivian Cade, a member of 16 years.

"I finally decided to see if I can work in the ER," he said, sharing he has met some nice people.

Charles Abma started volunteering at the urging of a church member about four years ago.

"There's not too many of us Red Rovers here. We're a minority here," he grinned.

However, he considers it a rewarding experience.

"So far, so good," he said. "I work in the ER; I do whatever is necessary."

He has especially been impressed with the quality of service given at the hospital.

"For a local hospital, they're fairly well-equipped,," he said.

Dr. Shirley Handler, another long-time volunteer former president and former chair of the junior volunteers, believes in volunteerism. During her tenure as a Pink Lady, her favorite past time was volunteering in the emergency room.

She's amazed at the group's longevity.

"It's very exciting that we've been here this long. It was good seeing Sallie Gullion, who was one of the charter members. I'm just sorry I wasn't. I guess I was working," Dr. Handler said, teasingly.

She considers the organization a vital part of the hospital.

"There's too many things that need to be done to make the patients and the family comfortable, things that the nurses don't have time to do," she said. "This means the volunteers can fill in. It's sort of bridging the gap and relieving the nurses of some things."

Ms. Machette encouraged more, especially young adults, to become a volunteer.

"We need young blood," she said.

Accomplishments:

A cart was used from 1975 to 1977. The gift shop, south of the elevators, was opened in 1977 with Val Ludington as manager.

A second enlarged gift shop was opened in the 1980s. A third gift shop was opened in February in 1997 at the atrium, near the elevators for larger space and better access to customers. With that move, a cash register and credit card machine was added. The auxiliary also purchased two refrigerators for the fresh flowers, drinks and ice cream. Balloons were also added to their stock of gifts.

The group successfully sold copies of cookbooks in January 1981, the late 1980s and the early 1990s, involving the entire hospital family.

From 1979 to 1988, they honored doctors with a dinner once a year.

The group organized the junior volunteers in 1978 for youth ages 16 and older.

The auxiliary has awarded nursing students scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $1,000 throughout the years.

For more information about volunteering, call Ms. Self at 903-927-6741.