On a recent evening, the Jefferson Regional Medical Center lobby was filled with joyous voices singing songs of the Christmas season.
With a sparkling, lighted tree as a backdrop, members of the Jenkins Center Choir sang several holiday favorites, including “Silver Bells” and “Winter Wonderland.” Afterward, guests enjoyed freshly baked cookies with steaming cups of hot chocolate or apple cider.
The occasion was the lighting of the community Christmas tree by the JRMC Auxiliary. Each year, people purchase lights to honor or serve as a memorial to friends and loved ones. Lighting the giant tree outside the hospital chapel is just one of many contributions that the auxiliary makes during the year.
“The hospital is extremely appreciative of what they do for us,” said Brian Thomas, JRMC senior vice president/chief operating officer. “They contribute countless volunteer hours. They do multiple fundraising activities throughout the year and that helps the hospital buy miscellaneous equipment and helps with improvement efforts.”
In 2010, auxiliary members contributed 11,174 volunteer hours. The organization has raised funds to buy car seats for newborns, a bookcase, chairs, televisions, thermometers and more. It has provided grants to many areas including the JRMC Childcare Center, JRMC Hospice, School of Nursing, Relay for Life, Radiology, Same Day and Outpatient Surgery and the Wellness Center.
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Alma Jean Tiner is one of the 50-year-old auxiliary’s longtime volunteers. She’s been active almost since its inception.
Serving as the official historian, Tiner keeps a scrapbook that details the auxiliary’s major happenings and achievements over the years. A black-and-white newspaper clipping from 1962 shows a group of smiling women beneath the headline, “Prospective Cheery Cherry Reds Attend Orientation Class.” Tiner is among them.
“When we first started, we wore pinafores and we were called Cherry Reds,” she explained. “Our uniforms were a cherry red color and sometimes they called us Cheery Cherry Reds.”
Volunteers who earned 25 hours participated in a capping ceremony and got to wear a cap. These days, volunteers wear blue jackets and no caps.
Tiner signed up for the auxiliary in 1961 when the hospital entrance faced 42nd Avenue.
“The auxiliary was in charge of the gift shop and that’s where we got funds to operate. I volunteered on Tuesday night.”
The retired Southwood Elementary School teacher has contributed countless hours since then.
“I enjoy it,” she said. “I like to help people. It’s just a worthwhile thing to do and I’m still doing it.”
Like many of her more than 50 fellow volunteers, Tiner puts in hours at the hospital’s information desk, gift shop, Coronary Care Unit, Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Room.
The Pine Bluff resident also serves on the Auxiliary Board and has served as recording secretary. She was named Volunteer of the Year in 2003.
The Auxiliary Board has held numerous fundraisers over the years, including costume jewelry sales and bazaars. Bake sales are one of Tiner’s favorite fundraisers.
“I make sourdough bread,” she said.
Those who work alongside her say there’s nothing sour about her though.
“She is one of the sweetest people in the world,” said JRMC volunteer coordinator Connie Carty. “We just adore her. She just brings joy into a room.”
Carty said Tiner is not only active in the auxiliary but also in her church and community.
“She is part of a group called the Strumming Seniors,” she said. “They play the ukulele.”
“We started out as a ukulele band in 1990 but we’ve added more instruments,” Tiner said. “We have a good time.”
Auxiliary volunteer Anna Merle Key praised Tiner’s dedication to serving others.
“When you give her a job, an assignment or some type of responsibility, it’s always done,” she said.
“She loves to work with children. She has dressed up as different characters and read stories to children.”
Auxiliary volunteer Pat Crain describes Tiner as “a person you can count on.”
“She will be the first to volunteer for whatever the project is,” she said.