Baptist Health Auxiliary

In 1958, a group of women met with the administrator at the old Kentucky Baptist Hospital on Barret Avenue to start the Baptist Hospitals Auxiliary. Two of the original founding members of the Auxiliary, Jet Owens and Ellen Roth, continued volunteering with Baptist Health for over 30 years. Together they accumulated over 25,000 service hours and remained lifetime members of the Auxiliary, setting the stage for what it is today.

Kentucky Baptist Hospital changed its name to Highlands Baptist Hospital and then in the early '80s it changed again to Baptist Hospital Highlands. Baptist East was opened in St. Matthews in 1975 and Baptist Highlands closed due to a decrease in patient occupancy, plus the need to consolidate some services. In 2013, Baptist East changed its name to Baptist Health Louisville.

The Auxiliary is a fundamental extension of the Volunteer Program, serving as a major fundraising arm of the hospital. They partner with vendors to schedule monthly sales throughout the year where proceeds from the sales and the Gift Shop are donated back to the hospital. The Auxiliary has made multiple $1 million pledges to the Foundation to purchase equipment and fund major hospital services:

• 2005 Park Tower Expansion
• 2011 Biplane Imaging System for Surgery
• 2017 Neonatal Intensive Care Expansion
• 2025 Child Development Center Renovation

These amazing volunteers are also instrumental in supporting several ongoing projects throughout the year:

• Surgical pillows – purchases all supplies, sews, stuffs and distributes to patients in need at the hospital. These pillows are given to all surgical patients and are known as cough pillows.
• Tray cards – groups from the local churches make up cards with Bible verses on them that are placed on bedside trays and in the waiting rooms by volunteers.
• Funding for patients with special needs – the Auxiliary provides a monthly check to the Foundation to help extend comfort to a patient in need or family member through expanded support services.
• Activity Booklets - The need for something for patients and families to do while visiting and waiting for tests was brought to the attention of the Auxiliary. An activity book was produced and placed in all outpatient and emergency waiting areas of the hospital to help pass the time.
• Patient Outreach Activities - Supplies are purchased to help patients and families stay connected while patients are receiving care in the hospital, such as coloring books, puzzles, playing cards and games. Volunteers distribute the materials to nursing units and patients.
• My Little Bible - The Auxiliary purchases more than 3,500 of these books which are children's Bible stories and are given to all babies born at Baptist Health Louisville.
• Other projects include - Fundraising, NICU therapy tools, baby hats and blankets, prayer blankets, Palliative Care pillowcases, Orthopedic program "Comfort Cart," prayer journals for the chapel, baby stockings, holiday cards for patients and more!

Over time, the Auxiliary and Volunteers have become one entity. The Auxiliary volunteers, in their help to the ill and the giving of their time, create an atmosphere of warmth and spirituality. The gracious giving and Christian caring further uphold the long-standing tradition of volunteering at the hospital. Donations to the Auxiliary are always appreciated and if you're interested in volunteering at a fundraising event, please submit a volunteer application! It is an opportunity to get involved with your community while supporting the mission of the Auxiliary and Baptist Health Louisville.