The Palmerton Hospital Auxiliary recently held its annual dinner meeting.

Priscilla Often, auxiliary president, welcomed guests to the annual meeting held June 23 at Blue Mountain Health System's Palmerton campus cafeteria.Violet Strickland, auxiliary treasurer, presented a check for $35,000 to Michael Harleman, chairman of the board of directors of BMHS and executive vice president of First Northern Bank & Trust.Harleman, along with Andrew Harris, president and CEO of BMHS, both thanked the auxiliary for its dedication and hard work throughout the year.The auxiliary raises money through its many fundraisers, such as the Nearly New Thrift Shop, the Owl's Nest Gift Shop, an art show in the hospital lobby, a Christmas in July raffle, an October lottery calendar, a nut roll sale, plant sale, Christmas bake sale, Krispy Kreme doughnut sale, and the strawberry shortcake stand at the Palmerton Community Festival.Volunteers deliver mail in the hospital, sew huggy bears for the patients, perform some clerical tasks, and work at the Adult Day Center in Lehighton.Often reported that the auxiliary also purchased for the hospital an electronic chair scale for weighing patients without them having to stand.The plants, which bloom outside the hospital, were also part of the gift, and Often read a letter from Harris saying how much the landscaping plants are enjoyed and appreciated.Two recent Palmerton Area High School graduates, Jenna Haydt and Kelly Westermann, attended the dinner.Haydt, who has been accepted into DeSales University's accelerated physician's assistant program, received the auxiliary's Nancy G. Mendsen Medical Career Award.Westermann, who will attend Bloomsburg University in the fall, received the auxiliary's Dan & Mary Shook Nursing Award.Both students spoke of their future plans, and thanked the auxiliary for the $1,000 awards.Amy Matla, who was unable to attend the event, received the $1,000 Joyce W. White In-House Nursing Award from the auxiliary.Matla, who works on the Med/Surg floor of the hospital, will use the money toward obtaining a bachelor of science in nursing degree at Cedar Crest College.Honorary members present were Jeanette Christman, Lois Rehrig and Violet Strickland. At the meeting, Alice Frable and Helen Sander were voted to become honorary members.The evening's guest speakers were Maureen McFarland and her team, who work in the Behavioral Health units at both Palmerton Hospital and Gnaden Huetten Hospital. The team also works with outpatients, has a visiting nurse program and provides caregiver support.The evening ended with the awarding of door prizes, and Often thanking everyone for attending and being part of the auxiliary.Anyone who would like to join the auxiliary is asked to call Louise Zatoris at 610-826-1342.