A Message From Theresa Salameno, Auxiliary President

theresa salameno

Dear Auxiliary members and friends,

Spring has finally arrived and with it brings new beginnings for The Valley Hospital in Paramus and The Valley Hospital Auxiliary. On Transition Day, April 14, a beautiful day dawned and the years of planning culminated in hundreds of volunteers working alongside Valley staff and EMTs to evacuate patients from the Ridgewood Campus to The Valley Hospital in Paramus. The last baby born in Ridgewood Valley Hospital was in the early hours of that morning and the first baby born in The Valley Hospital in Paramus was shortly after the Mother & Baby Unit opened. The first patient to arrive in Paramus was around 8:00 a.m. and the last of the 201 patients evacuated was clapped out of Ridgewood at 3:00 p.m. arriving at the new hospital around 3:15 p.m. An amazing day for everyone and a huge vote of thanks to all our volunteers who helped make this happen so seamlessly.

What a milestone year 2024 is, marked by the opening of The Valley Hospital, Paramus, a 40 acre state-of-the-art facility and the Ruby Anniversary of The Valley Hospital Auxiliary. At the Auxiliary Central Board meeting in March, we kicked off the 80th Birthday celebrations with a brunch, acknowledging the 36 women who in 1944 had a vision to support The Valley Hospital, Ridgewood which was opening in 1950. They did so by service and fundraising and The Valley Hospital Auxiliary was “born.” We thank all who served, donated, attended and volunteered through the years to help fulfill Auxiliary pledges that to date have raised over $21,000,000 since 1950.

Branches continue planning fun events for the Spring and on the calendar still to come are:

  • Allendale Branch Happy Hour at Charlie’s Place, Waldwick. No RSVP required - just go and socialize, sip a cocktail and have fun
  • Allendale Branch Spring Social on May 21 6-9 pm at Pinstripes, Garden State Plaza, Paramus, NJ
  • Employee Branch, Clay Shoot, August - more details to follow
  • Franklin Lakes Branch, Designer Pocketbook Bingo, Thursday, June 6, 5 pm, Trinity Episcopal Church, Allendale
  • Saddle River Valley Branch, Annual Spring Luncheon, Tuesday June 4, 10.30 am - 2.30 pm. The Tuxedo Club, Tuxedo, NY

ONGOING - 

  • Franklin Lakes Branch, NO-Sew Sewing Circle. Help prepare special fleece blankets for children admitted to the new Pediatric Pod of The Valley Hospital. No sewing experience needed, if you can cut a fringe and tie a knot, you’re good to go!

COME JOIN OUR AUXILIARY VOLUNTEERS

  • The Auxiliary operates the “Especially for You” Cart and volunteers are needed for Tuesday mornings, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. The cart serves coffee, tea, cookies, and other snacks to visitors and family members in hospital waiting areas. An opportunity to make great one-on-one connections and everyone is so appreciative of these treats.
  • Volunteers are needed at Kraft to assist with phone calls and office duties and there are also opportunities to train for helping with patient home visits. 
  • Calling all coffee aficionados, training will be offered to volunteers who’d like to help at the Java Cart, Valley Health System - Ridgewood Campus.

Central Board happenings on the horizon:

  • Butterfly Release, Saturday, June 1st at 10:00 a.m.
  • 51st Annual Golf Outing at the Ridgewood Country Club, Monday, June 3rd
  • VHA Annual Meeting and Lunch, Thursday, June 20, Indian Trail Club, Franklin Lakes, NJ. Join us as we install the new 2024 - 2025 slate of officers and make our donation to The Foundation, bringing us ever closer to completing our $3,000,000 pledge to the Pediatric Emergency Department and $100,000 to Valley Home Cares Butterflies Endowment Program for hospice and palliative care of very sick children. 
  • Brunch at the Lake, our second annual branch get together, Indian Trail Club, Franklin Lakes. More details to follow.

Thank you for taking the time to check in with us, come and join our awesome organization, make new friends and help make a difference in the community. For details of all events and membership information, please contact Bonnie Dalal, Auxiliary Coordinator at [email protected].

Wishing you all a safe and happy Spring!

Warmly,

Theresa Salameno,

President, The Valley Hospital Auxiliary