February 15, 2010

On Saturday, 21-year veteran volunteer Polly Breckinridge helped "newby" Frank Cherms, a 14-month volunteer and chair of the Candy Sales Committee, serve up sweets to  customers Helen Thompson, Activities Director for the Skilled Nursing Facility, and visitor Robert Johnston.  All claimed not to eat sweets, but the sales proceeded anyway.  As of Saturday morning, the committee had about broken even, Cherms said.

The lobby sales started at Christmas, 1992. All candy sales, with the exception of one product from Rock Mountain Candy, are See's candy, sold at See's retail prices.  Funds used from the sales go to provide grants to non-medical staff for the following: 1) job-related meetings and training–$12,000 was in this year's budget for this purpose; 2) medical equipment as requested by the hospital administration – about $20,000 per year; and 3) waiting room furniture.  This year, $6,000 from the third category was given to the Birthplace for their family waiting room. 

Cherms said the hospital is seeing a decline in funds possibly because of competition from other venders in Sonoma.