Hospital Auxiliary to host 45th ice cream social

WORLAND — After a year off due to COVID, the Worland Hospital Auxiliary will be hosting its 45th Annual Ice Cream Social from 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 8, behind the Community Center Complex.

Meg Stark, retired hospital laboratory director, has been involved in the event since its beginning. Between the ice cream social and the hospital gift shop, it is the largest fundraiser for the Auxiliary.

“In the past, we put all of the first phones in the hospital and first TVs,” Stark said. Now, the Hospital Auxiliary contributes around $3,000 a year in mammopads alone, an annual in-house scholarship of $250, and two $500 scholarships for local high school students looking to enter the medical field. On top of that, they help out with “anything that we’re asked to participate in that we can afford to,” she said.

In 2020, the hospital gift shop was the only fundraiser for the group. It was relocated to the farmer’s market, the park downtown, and once, even onto Stark’s back porch.

The last time the ice cream social was held, Stark estimates there were 300-400 people in attendance. “I can tell you we went through 30 gallons of ice cream, does that mean anything?” she laughed, “Plus dozens of cakes.”

The Auxiliary consists of 15 hardworking women who each contribute three cakes to the fundraiser. This year the myriad of baked goods will be accompanied by Wilcox ice cream, with the Girl Scouts in attendance to provide hotdog meals.

Local businesses may be handing out ice cream social tickets to patrons, and hotels in the area will be handing them out to guests. Adult entry is $2, and children’s is $1.

For entertainment, the Auxiliary has set up a duck pond for ages 5 and under and a fish pond for older children, along with corn hole, darts and golf. A trophy will be given out for anyone who can make a hole in one. Bert Bresach will provide the music.

“It’s our big function for making money during the year to buy things at the hospital. So, it’s fun,” Stark said. “We encourage everybody to come!”