The CHC Volunteers’ annual open house of art by students in Branch County schools was held at CHC on Friday, May 13, 2011. The Hospital Enhancement Program (H.E.P) is in its sixteenth year of offering area students an opportunity to have their individual artwork displayed at the hospital as well as receive monetary prizes for first, second, and third place awards. Thirty-four pictures were framed and hung throughout the first floor of the hospital. Programs were available in the main lobby to help visitors identify the artwork.

During the open house,Randy DeGroot, President & CHC’s Chief Executive Officer, and Rick Devries, Monarch Community Bank CEO and President, presented certificates to Jenny Poindexter, grade 11 of Quincy for first place; Hussain Atwain, grade 11 of Coldwater for second place and; Jessica Synder, Grade 10 of Union City for third place; and Adycus Yockey, grade three of Ryan Elementary in Bronson, won in the elementary division.

Monarch Community Bank was once again the exclusive sponsor of this project. Monarch has generously sponsored the H.E.P. program for the past several years. Without Monarch Community Bank’s generous support and that of other community members, the program would not exist. Sponsorships provide the funds to have the artwork professionally matted and framed.  Framing was supported by Voss Art, Ltd.

Local schools were encouraged to have student art submitted for judging.  Participating schools includedUnion City, Coldwater, Bronson,Quincy, Pansophia,St. Charles, St. Paul Lutheran, and Tri-State Christian schools.  CHC Volunteers on the HEP Committee picked up the pictures on March 21 and 22 with judging on Friday, March 25.

The H.E.P. Committee spends many hours each year on this project. Letters are sent to all area schools in the fall with committee members following up with phone calls. Letters are also sent thanking the art teachers for participating, to remind them of upcoming dates, and to all students whose art was showcased the previous year. Committee members Marilyn Ashdown, Romaine Dollar, Jan Robinson, Pat Sampsel, Dorothy Witmyer, and Cathy Butler disassembled last year’s pictures not purchased by the student, and once the current year’s pictures are chosen, either match the art with existing frames or purchase new ones. The frames and pictures are then taken to a professional to be matted and framed.

Judging is done by a committee which includes CHC’s Chief Executive Officer, CHC Volunteer Services Director, a member of the Branch County Art Guild, an art teacher from one of the participating schools, and the entire H.E.P. Committee.

The Community Health Center of Branch County Volunteers are a group of dedicated men and women who donate thousands of hours of their time every year to support, assist, and advocate for CHC and provide services to assist in meeting CHC’s mission and vision. They serve in nearly every department of the hospital. Some volunteer as much as 20 hours per week while others work as little as two hours a month. Volunteers do everything from delivering mail and mowing grass to assisting cancer patients and helping with fund raisers.

Volunteers help in patient areas such as the emergency room and nursing units. They lend clerical assistance in many of the office areas. They assist with patient and guest relations at the information desk and help in dietary and environmental services. Volunteers knit or crochet hats for every baby born at CHC to prevent heat loss and provide bereavement layettes as well as booties and blankets. A group of sewers stitch pediatric surgical hats to help alleviate the anxiety of the littlest patients having surgery as well as make cough pillows for patients having abdominal surgery. 

In addition to the individuals who volunteer on a regular basis within the hospital, many volunteers focus their activities on fundraising for CHC. Their efforts help to run the gift shop and plan events throughout the year, such as their annual used book sale, bake sale, and raffle.

For more about the H.E.P. Project, to donate towards the matting and framing of the prints, or to learn more about CHC Volunteers, please call the CHC Volunteer Services office at 279-5282.