Norton Hospital Women’s Board  -

History

In 1875, a group of women at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church organized with the purpose of establishing a hospital. Mrs. John Norton, widow of The Rev. Norton of Christ Church, offered her home as a memorial to her husband for use as an infirmary but it was found inadequate. The proceeds from the sale of this property supplied the first contribution as well as a name to the projected enterprise. By 1881, there was enough money in the treasury to purchase a site at Third and Oak Streets.

            The hospital was operated by a volunteer board of managers, 13 women chosen from the Episcopal Church.  This group was in charge of the hospital and all its affairs for almost forty years. In 1924, the women asked to be relieved of the responsibilities of management and a new group was organized and met in 1925.  This was the first step toward organization of the Norton Woman’s Board. The bylaws state that the President of the Board “shall … act as liaison officer between the administration of Norton Hospital, the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, and the Board …”

            The mission of the Woman’s Board is to provide needed services to Norton Hospital through a strong cadre of volunteers who engage in a variety of projects and duties and to increase public understanding of the mission and role of Norton Hospital and the Board through contact with family, friends, church and other groups in which members of the Board are involved.  Our Board members are Episcopal and non - Episcopal women and men who volunteer days, nights, and weekends.

            Revenues from the gift shop established in 1946, dividends from stock funds given to the Board years ago, and income from baby pictures, enabled the Board to contribute financially to the Hospital’s growth and needs. Since October 18, 1976, when giving was first tracked by computer, giving by the Woman’s Board is $2,054,287.  Of course, the Board gave for many years prior to 1976 and those records are kept in the Hospital’s finance department.

            Through the years the Board has been responsible for many projects and services to the Hospital.  Funds have been provided for student loans, nurses training, Lansing nursing scholarships, a chaplain’s salary, medical equipment, cardiac center, reproductive testing center, and audiovisual center, a hearing screener, and the Chapel renovation, to name a few areas.

            Adults in any age group, who are looking for a lay ministry which is interesting, challenging, and personally satisfying, can find their niche in one of the services of the Norton’s Woman’s Board. Men and women gift shop volunteers are urgently needed for day, night, and weekend hours.  Other services needing volunteers are mail delivery, ICU waiting area, prime time representatives, patient representatives, and publicity. For further information, please call Virginia Huffman, 896-4257, Helen Bond, 228-5960, or Virginia Rauh, 228-8262.

how to get started volunteering for an outreach ministry

Call Sandy Wood, Volunteer Coordinator at the St. Francis parish office.  She will help you take the next step.

Call 228-1176