Volunteers: Honoring the Heart of our Hospital
Allen County Regional Hospital Auxiliary volunteers join hospital administrator Pat Patton (far right) to see the new functional trainer purchased for the Hospital's therapy department.
Each April, Volunteer Appreciation Week reminds us to pause and reflect on all the ways our hospital volunteers support our mission to serve our patients and communities.
Volunteers organized what is now the Allen County Regional Hospital Auxiliary in the early 1950s, not long after Allen County Hospital first opened its doors a few blocks east of Iola’s downtown.
Today, Auxiliary members welcome people at the Hospital’s front reception desk, ready to answer questions and escort patients and visitors to various departments. They sew lap quilts and mammography capes, and craft tray favors that serve up smiles alongside comforting meals. Volunteers assist with community blood drives, host socials for hospital staff, and support other special projects throughout the year.
Volunteers also participate in fundraising activities including operating the hospital’s gift shop, hosting several one-day sales events throughout the year, taking pre-orders for seasonal pie and poinsettia sales, and organizing an annual memory tree ornament program to honor the memories of friends and loved ones during the holidays.
"We’d like to thank everyone who’s supported our fundraising efforts,” says Sharon Utley, Allen County Regional Hospital Auxiliary president. “We use these funds to provide several scholarships and help the hospital purchase items that benefit the staff or support patient care—that’s an important part of our mission.”
Each year, hospital departments suggest “wish list” equipment and other items to be considered for Auxiliary funding. Working alongside hospital leaders, volunteers review the prioritized list and vote on what they’d like to purchase.
Since 2023, the Auxiliary has contributed more than $22,000 to Allen County Regional Hospital with funds used to purchase multiple wheelchairs, a new ultrasound probe for the Emergency Department, and a large Christmas tree for the main lobby. Volunteers also contributed toward the landscaping and irrigation system around the Hospital’s walking trail and gazebo.
More recent purchases include a functional trainer and other equipment for the therapy department, along with a new cart for the kitchen and a larger seat for the laboratory’s phlebotomy chair.
The Allen County Regional Hospital Auxiliary is part of Hospital Volunteers of Kansas (HVK), a group of more than 35 Kansas hospital auxiliaries that meet to network, share project ideas, and learn about legislative matters that affect health care in Kansas. Auxiliary members also coordinate regular gatherings to network with Anderson County Hospital’s volunteers in Garnett.
The Auxiliary includes around 20 active members and several lifetime members. In 2025, hospital volunteers recorded nearly 2,700 hours of service.
“We provide a variety of ways to get involved,” says Sharon. “Everyone has different talents and interests, so we want people to enjoy their time and feel good about the work they do. Volunteering at the hospital not only helps improve patient care but also gives folks the opportunity to connect with community members and make a meaningful impact.”
Allen County Regional Hospital Auxiliary 2026 officers are Sharon Utley, president; Kay Walker, vice president; Jeanna Church, secretary; and Hellen Welch and Mary Lacy, co-treasurers.
The Allen County Regional Hospital Auxiliary welcomes new members. To learn more or talk to an auxiliary member, call the hospital’s volunteer coordinator at 620-365-1021.