Seventy-five seems to be the magic number for Anne Arundel Medical Center’s (AAMC) Auxiliary. Throughout their 75-year history of AAMC support, the “Blue Crew,” has dedicated its time, talent, and funding to care programs throughout the healthcare system. AAMC’s Auxiliary consists of more than 750 volunteers working in more than 30 areas of service, including administration, customer service and information, clinical, and retail at AAMC’s Jennifer Road campus and other locations. AAMC Foundation President Jan Wood, who nominated the group, said that their annual volunteer support equates to the work of 75 full-time AAMC employees. “The AAMC Auxiliary is a longstanding and indispensable part of AAMC’s vision of living healthier together by providing invaluable volunteer service and philanthropic support, providing care and comfort for thousands of patients and their families,” she said. 

This year, even though the pandemic prevented onsite volunteer work, the AAMC Auxiliary volunteers continued to share their unwavering dedication for their local hospital and its outreach efforts. The Auxiliary Handcrafters Guild sewed and donated hundreds of cloth masks, gowns, and surgical caps for AAMC employees and COVID-19 outreach in the community. To lift morale, the Auxiliary sponsored an ice cream delivery for all AAMC employees in May. Additionally, to recognize the high quality, compassionate care that the AAMC team continues to provide during the pandemic, the AAMC Auxiliary donated $5,000 to purchase t-shirts for every AAMC employee with the inscription, “We’re In This Together.” 

There are hundreds of stories of the Auxiliary helping others through their steadfast support of AAMC over the years. These dedicated volunteers have helped raised money and donations for some of the most important centers and programs at AAMC. To date, the AAMC Auxiliary has donated more than $22 million to AAMC areas of care including cardiac surgery, mental health, employee scholarships, the Geaton and JoAnn DeCesaris Cancer Institute, and countless building campaigns. Fundraising efforts on behalf of the Auxiliary includes an on-campus gift shop and the Out of the Box resale revenue, vendor sales, and ticketed social functions. 

With 80% of the AAMC Auxiliary aged 70 years and older, they are committed to supporting AAMC’s effort in creating an age-friendly health system and addressing the growing needs of Anne Arundel County’s aging population. In 2020, the Auxiliary made a commitment to raise $1.5 million for AAMC’s Institute for Healthy Aging to support specialized geriatric care for AAMC patients and their families. 

The Auxiliary also extends its help outside the confines of AAMC. When the Our Lady of Guadalupe Ministry at St. Mary’s Parish approached them for help, the Auxiliary rapidly agreed, said Constance Robinson, the ministry’s Director of Resources Committee. The Out of the Box store now sets aside clothing, household items, and furniture to donate to the needy Hispanic families in the county. “With the clothing and household items that are donated to our families from Out of the Box, we have witnessed the individual appreciation and sense of pride in these family members,” said Robinson.