In January 1959, Alaska was admitted as the 49th state in the United State and later, in August Hawaii became the 50th state.

Dwight D. Eisenhower was the president of the Untied States with the average cost of gas being 30 cents a gallon and a loaf of bread costing only 20 cents.

Ben-Hur was the highest grossing film that year and Barbie made her debut at the New York Toy Fair.

President and chief executive of Schneck Medical Center Dr. Eric Fish said 1959 also was a big year at Schneck, known as Schneck Memorial Hospital at the time, as the guild was founded that year.

A group of charter members came together to create the guild on Jan. 27, 1959, which included Mrs. George Laupus, Mrs. R.M. Swain Jr., Mrs. Wilford Greemann, Mrs. George Boas, Mrs. Harry Baxter, Mrs. Richard Montgomery, Mrs. Arthur Kaufman and Mrs. Richard Robertson.

Some of the earlier projects the guild accomplished was a shampoo room that gave patients the opportunity to have their hair washed by volunteers and local beauticians, decorating the hospital for Christmas, taking newborn baby photos and sewing hospital beds.

Guild fundraisers initially started with fashion shows, public auctions and bake sales before the gift shop opened in 1970. Since its founding the guild has committed hundreds of thousands of dollars in monetary donations to the hospital.

“Schneck has been blessed over the 65 years to have countless volunteers who have supported the guild which in turn directly supports Schneck and our mission,” Fish said during the guild’s annual celebration Monday.

Currently, the guild has around 82 volunteers with a total of 12,985 hours served in 2023.

“You willingly and freely give your time and talent to support our team members and patients, for that I am truly thankful for all of you,” he said.

Helen Clark served as the guild’s president from 1991 to 1992 and was the treasurer for 19 years before stepping away from her duties at the information desk. She started volunteering in the 1980s.

“The hospital has changed so much, especially the name over the years,” she said. “I remember it use to go from Jackson County Memorial Hospital to Schneck Memorial Hospital to Schneck Medical Center and back and forth every few years.”

While the name has changed and she has seen many remodels over the decades, she has made fond memories during her time with the guild.

“I just love helping people and they help you too,” she said.

Patty Elmore started volunteering in 1998 and said back then she could have been found mostly in the guild room.

“We use to transport patients to their X-rays and moved beds,” she said. “We saw a lot of new technology come to the hospital as well.”

Elmore said one of the biggest fundraisers she saw in her time as a volunteer was a clothing sale.

“I remember the people that would come to buy clothing were really nice to talk to and we also raise a lot of money through the gift shop,” she said.

After all of these years, Elmore said she has always cherished her time volunteering with the guild and seeing old friends.

“I loved working, its like a family,” she said. “They treat us like queens.”

Grace Stuckwisch started volunteering in 2000 and has worked the main desk once a week since then.

“I just love working with people,” she said.

In her 24 years of volunteering, Stuckwish has seen the hospital undergone major changes.

“The hospital is so big now,” she said. “It can be hard to keep track where things are.”

Volunteer manager Amy Hatton then passed out awards to volunteers who served a certain number of hours.

Lisa Jorgenson, Bridget Molinari and Michael Seaney were awarded for 100 hours of service, Candy Smith and Paula Stafford for 500 hours, Tom Stafford for 1000 hours and Bob Doriot and Loris Hubbard for 2000 hours.

“I am so blessed to be able to work with all of you on a daily basis,” she said.

Hatton shared a brief newspaper article of the impact the guild was having on the community shortly after their founding.

The article reported hospital guild members aided, Geneva Campbell, 11, of Commiskey who suffered second and third degree burns to the chest, back and both arms after her pajamas caught fire while standing in front of an open stove.

The guild members of the Jackson County Hospital, at the time, provided volunteer services and filled a void for Campbell, who was left without a mother by reading to her, combing her hair and painting her fingernails.

A round of applause of was given to volunteers, both active and inactive, as the impact of the guild is seen in the past and continues to live on in the future.