Although the over 700 Jupiter Medical Center Auxiliary volunteers come in all shapes, sizes and ages, they share a common desire to touch people's lives and make a difference by contributing to the community in which they live and prosper. The Auxiliary volunteers staff over 50 different positions within the hospital such as providing wheelchair-bound patient transportation, family waiting room support, operating the visitor information desk, performing clerical duties and assisting in the high-energy emergency room and intensive care units. In addition to the hospital, volunteers staff positions at satellite facilities such as Women's Diagnostics Center, The Pavilion, Ella Milbank Foshay Cancer Center, and Outpatient Surgery Center.

The Auxiliary operates the Motor Aid Service, providing transportation to and from the hospital Monday through Friday. This service provides a vital link to the non-driving members of our community. Volunteers drive patients to their medical procedures and critical treatments such as chemotherapy.

The Auxiliary also operates two revenue generating facilities: the Thrift Shop, located at 205 Center Street in Jupiter, and the Gift Shop, located in hospital's East entrance. Auxiliary members volunteering in these specialized areas may find themselves operating a cash register, re-stocking and pricing donated items, assisting customers in selecting purchases or providing telephone support. In the past few years, Auxiliary members have raised over $2 million to improve patient and visitor services at Jupiter Medical Center.

Volunteer Prerequisites:

• Attend general orientation session and job-specific training
• Pass a background check and annual tuberculosis test

To join the Jupiter Medical Center Auxiliary, contact us at 561-744-4461.

Auxiliary Spotlight: Patrick (Pat) Barone, Motor Aid

Patrick Barone, a volunteer for the Jupiter Medical Center (JMC) Motor Aid since 1991, has a history of selfless giving. A WWII veteran of the U.S. Army, Barone served his country proudly, and today serves his community through his volunteer work at JMC.

During his service in the Army in 1945, he was waiting with fellow soldiers to cross the Bridge at Remagen, a now famous bridge in Germany that traverses the River Rhine. The American troops were bombed and Barone was badly wounded when shrapnel struck his head. Barone received the Purple Heart for his courage and commitment to his country.

Decades later, in 2007, Barone was again honored, but this time it was for his contribution as a volunteer at Jupiter Medical Center. He and his wife, Louise Barone, were the first couple awarded the hospital Auxiliary's Alice V. Rizzo Award. The award is given each year to honor an outstanding Auxilian, chosen by the Executive Board based on the volunteer's length of service, dedication and significant contributions to the Auxiliary.

They were given the award because, "Together these two outstanding Auxilians have contributed a combined total of almost 15,000 hours and 35 years of invaluable service." Louise has worked for 20 years as a volunteer in JMC's thrift shop.

As a JMC volunteer, people like Barone add that extra special caring dimension to the healthcare team at JMC. Their efforts complement the function of the professional staff, enhancing the comfort and quality of each patient's stay, making a highly positive impact on patients, family members, visitors and hospital employees alike.

Barone has served more than 7,900 volunteer hours in an area that matches his talent, interest and experience - Motor Aid.  There he ensures the fleet of Motor Aid vans are well maintained for the transport of patients to and from the hospital.

It's a job he relishes, putting to good use his knowledge of automobile maintenance. He'll go so far as to fix problems himself, if they're minor. "I've always fixed cars," Barone said. "My father was in the trucking business, so we always worked on trucks when we were young."

Barone said he joined JMC's Auxiliary at the urging of his wife, who started volunteering in 1990. The Auxiliary accommodated his preference to work outside the hospital, finding him the perfect complement for his talents.

The Barones will soon celebrate their 61st anniversary. The couple retired to South Florida in 1987, after about 40 years in the retail business in New Jersey. They owned stores that sold cocktail and formal wear in Red Bank, NJ.

Volunteering is an enriching experience and one of the most rewarding ways to support your community hospital.  Barone says his volunteer work keeps him active and socializing. "We meet a lot of nice people. They get to know us and we get to know them. I enjoy that," he says.  

Barone said he's happy to give back and encourages others to do the same. "We always need more volunteers, and there really is something for almost anyone," he says. "If you volunteer here, I guarantee you'll enjoy it."