Celebrating the volunteers was on top of the agenda during the Palmerton Hospital Auxiliary annual dinner meeting.

"This always feels like the last day of school for me as we end our year. We can look back on all that we have accomplished and be proud," said Joe Guardiani, vice president of fund development and government relations for Blue Mountain Health System.The auxiliary volunteers operate the Owls Nest Gift Shop in the hospital and the Nearly New Shop on Delaware Avenue.The strawberry shortcake stand at the Community Festival, Christmas in July raffle ticket, nut roll sale, Krispy Kreme doughnut sale, a spring plant sale, October lotto calendar and a bus trip are just a few of the events held throughout the year through which the auxiliary raises funds for the Palmerton Campus.They also have an ongoing art sale on the ground floor of the hospital."Our auxiliary's goal is to help our hospital and health system," auxiliary president Joann Kercsmar said.She said volunteering can benefit your health. It helps to combat the effects of stress, anger, anxiety, depression and helps our overall well-being by being with and working with others for a common goal."We celebrate a very successful year. A year of many projects and hard work," Kercsmar said. She individually thanked Emily Bradbury, Ways and Means Committee; Karen Kaiser, manager of the Nearly New; Mary Levendusky, Owls Nest Gift Shop, and the ladies who volunteer at the Adult Day Care Center.She also thanked volunteers who deliver mail in the hospital; the maintenance crew of the hospital for dealing with setting up and take down after events; those who schedule the volunteers; and the women who sew and stuff the Huggy Bears for the patients in the hospital.A special thanks to Beverly Smale for sewing colorful breast cancer ice bags; and Pat Clark for the newsletter and computer work."The Nearly New has been serving our community for 53 years. We have 35 volunteers who operate the store six days a week. I give you all my sincere thank you for your hard work," store manager Karen Keiser said.Levendusky, treasurer of the Owls Nest, reminisced of the time she started working at the hospital 46 years ago and the Owls Nest was located in the hospital basement."This year we had to finally purchase a new cash register after all those years," Levendusky joked.Auxiliary Treasurer Violet Strickland, presented a check in the amount of $40,154.80 to Steve Serfass, chairman of the board of Blue Mountain Health System, and Andrew Harris, president and CEO of BMHS."You do important work. Through your efforts and hard work, you make this community special. Keep up the good work," Serfass said.Alyssa Olewine was the recipient of the $1,000 Nancy G. Mensen Medical Career Award. She is a 2017 graduate of Palmerton Area High School and will be attending Philadelphia University for health sciences/physician assistant studies.Rebekah Maehrer received the $1,000 Dan and Mary Shook Nursing Award. She is also a 2017 Palmerton graduate and will be attending Cedar Crest College.Joe McColgan, CNA, was awarded the $1,000 Joyce W. White in-house nursing award. McColgan currently works on the med-surg floor of the hospital and is continuing his education in nursing.The guest speaker of the evening was Judge William Kissner, Magisterial District Judge in Carbon County."Coming to the Palmerton Hospital is like a close-knit family. I see so many faces here that I can remember from growing up. I commend you for the work you do, year in and year out. Since 1912 the auxiliary has raised over a million dollars. You volunteer your time, energy and sometimes even your own money. You are the backbone and the silent leaders of this community," Kissner said.