Mabel Cleveland retires from volunteer position with Person Memorial Auxiliary

December 1, 2007

By VICKI BERRY
C-T LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Roxboro resident Mabel Cleveland officially resigned her volunteer treasurer position with the Person Memorial Hospital Auxiliary at the end of September.

“I can’t remember exactly when I took on the position,” said Cleveland, but estimated that is was about 12 years ago that she became responsible for the duties – duties she continued to carry out through a knee replacement, chemo therapy and radiation treatments. And whenever vacations were in order, Cleveland made arrangements and enlisted the help of a fellow Auxiliary member to assist while she was away.

So, after more that a decade of paying the bills, making deposits for a variety of fundraisers, including Light of Love, the annual Jewelry Sale, Uniform Sale, and contributions, as well as presenting monthly and annual reports to the Auxiliary Board of Directors, Cleveland decided it was time to give up the position and let someone else take on the duties.

“I enjoyed it but it was getting to be too much,” Cleveland said. Following her retirement with the Person County Board of Education, Cleveland initially became involved with the Auxiliary by volunteering in the Hospital Gift Shop. “They knew I had worked with figures and roped me” into the position of treasurer. “They didn’t give my much choice,” Cleveland quipped.

Cleveland said the highlight of her years with the Auxiliary was meeting with and working with the other auxiliary volunteers. She also recalls that she attended several state meetings and workshops over the years as well as visited with legislators in Raleigh. Though Cleveland is retiring as treasurer, she plans to continue her involvement with the Auxiliary.

“We need volunteers,” she emphasized, to help with raising the $30,000 to $40,000 that is donated to the hospital annually by the Auxiliary. “I will still volunteer but I well do something else that won’t take as much time,” she said, maybe helping as a liaison in the emergency room or working on the Auxiliary scrapbook. Making a full circle, Cleveland will return where she began with the charity organization, the gift shop. “They always need someone to help in the gift shop.”

Reprinted with permission from
The Courier=Times