MMC-125 : Mercy Volunteers

Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh is celebrating 125 Years

Between now and the final celebration in September, we will share some stories and facts to show how far we have come in furthering the vision of the initial Sisters.

Mercy Volunteers

In 1941, The Red Cross Volunteers organized themselves at Mercy.  Also known as The Gray Ladies, they were the volunteer work force for Mercy.  Through the years, Mercy Volunteers have contributed more than a billion hours of service at Mercy.

Auxiliary – Volunteers begin in 1950s started by Sr Oswaldina to build a partnership with community members. 

Sr. Oswaldina Nutz, administrator of Mercy Hospital from 1957 to 1961, is credited with founding the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary in 1958.  Her purpose, at least in part, was to increase community involvement in the hospital.  “The greater concern the public shows for its hospital, the stronger the spirit of the hospital will be, the better the care the patients will receive, and the greater the feeling of security you will enjoy,” Sister Oswaldina said.  She kicked off a membership recruitment drive with a tea and tours to introduce community members to the hospital.  The Auxiliary project was a success, and in little more than a year, there were 163 members.  Today, the total of funds raised by the [Mercy Medical Center Volunteers (MMCV) organization] is well over a million dollars.    – From The Hallmarks of Mercy Historical Display.

Read more about  History of Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, WI :

                Library Archives LibGuide – Mercy Medical Center

                The Hallmarks of Mercy Historical Display (Digital)

                                

  

These short articles appeared in Jeremy Normington-Slay's Friday News & Notes emails sent out to all Mercy employees in 2016.  The historical and Archival Material was provided by Michele Matucheski, Librarian and Archivist at Mercy Medical Center.