On Thursday, February 12, 2026, NMC’s Auxiliary held one of their regular membership meetings, hearing from guest speaker Susan Casavant, an Occupational Therapist with Northwestern Rehab Services. Casavant shared with the group tips for aging gracefully in your own home.

The Auxiliary membership meets four times a year and each meeting features a speaker followed by the business portion of the meeting. During the meeting, Auxiliary President Maris Rock and the Auxiliary Board Chairs reported on the various areas of responsibility for the Auxiliary, including review of the organization’s finances.

Two funding requests were made during the meeting. One was a $1,000 request that funds the registration of an NMC staff entry into the Champ Challenge event hosted by the St. Albans Rotary Club. The Champ Challenge is raising funds for NMC’s diagnostic imaging programs that support cardiology.

Another funding request sought just over $13,000 to purchase four new patient wheelchairs. Use of wheelchairs in NMC’s main building and the Cobblestone Health Commons building has increased and having more chairs available will make transporting patients around our buildings more efficient.

More About the Auxiliary

The Auxiliary’s Mission is to support NMC through fund-raising and positive community relations. The NMC Auxiliary was formed by and for people who have a common commitment to the goals of the hospital and a concern for the health of our community.

The Auxiliary’s largest ongoing fundraising source is the NMC Gift Gallery, which is open to the public five days a week. The gift gallery features a variety of gift items like: women’s clothing and accessories, baby items, toys, games, books, decorations (seasonal and everyday), cards, chocolate, flowers, and much more. Please stop in and patronize the shop!

The Auxiliary membership gathers in September, November, February and April. At the meetings, attendees enjoy a meal and a featured guest speaker, which is followed by a business meeting.

New members are always welcome. Please contact the Auxiliary/Volunteer office at Northwestern Medical Center at 524-1055 if you are interested in learning more or becoming a member.

Photo caption: Susan Casavant, Occupational Therapist with Northwestern Rehab Services presenting to the Auxiliary membership.