Herrin Hospital's ongoing expansion received a boost from the Hospital Auxiliary.
The volunteer group is pledging 500-thousand dollars over the next five years for technology and equipment for the hospital's new Center for Advanced Laparoscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery.
Auxiliary President Marlyn Cairatti says she and her members issued the first installment Monday of 150-thousand dollars thanks in large part to hospital visitors who purchase items in the gift shop.
"The Gift Garden at Herrin Hospital is run by all volunteers and members of the Auxiliary. All money that is made at the Gift Garden is donated back to the hospital."
Cairatti says the Gift Garden opened in 1982 and Monday's installment pushes the Auxiliary's donations back to Herrin Hospital to over one million dollars.
Hospital administrator Terence Farrell says the volunteer led auxiliary is a vital part of the hospital community.
"Think of individuals who have not only given to their community throughout their whole career, many of them raised families, been school teachers, business leaders, but, now many of them in their retirement, they decided to come here and give freely of their time. There's thousands of hours a year contributed. They operate a gift shop here for us and all of the proceeds from the gift shop come right back to the hospital in this way."
Herrin Hospital's expansion involves the construction of three new operating rooms and the renovation of four existing OR's.
Farrell says the three new rooms should be open by August.
