A gasped “Oh my goodness,” plus smiles and a few tears were Aggie Scott’s reaction to a surprise presentation at Cobleskill Regional Hospital Thursday afternoon.
Hospital officials honored Ms. Scott by naming the refurbished patient activity room in her honor.
A volunteer with the Hospital Auxiliary since its founding in 1956, Ms. Scott kicked off the fund drive for the room with a donation of $3,500.
“They say charity starts in the home, and we like to think of this as your downtown home,” President Eric Stein said in noting Ms. Scott’s long service. After Ms. Scott’s initial donation, hospital employees, board members and medical staff donated an additional $11,200 for the room’s refurbishing.
“Aggie challenged the hospital family to make the patient activity room a better place, and everyone really got into the spirit,” Mr. Stein said.
“We’re very grateful to Aggie and to all in the hospital community who contributed to this project.”
The patient activity room is a setting for patients to dine, play games and gather with family and friends outside of their hospital rooms.
The new furnishings include a 42-inch flat-screen TV contributed by Ms. Scott, new tables that accommodate wheelchairs, and new chairs, cabinets and window treatments.
Coming the next few weeks will be new board games, books, DVDs, CDs and a Wii Player, all designed to improve the comfort and healing environment for patients.
“What a wonderful gift for patients,” Mr. Stein said. “And it’s fitting that it’s an activity room because you’re one of the most active in the community, regardless of age. You led the charge.”
Ms. Scott sold copies of her cookbook, Aggie Scott’s Kitchen, to raise money for the room. Besides recipes, the book includes family photos and documents her working life as “a cafeteria lady” in Cobleskill schools.
Ms. Scott’s love of the hospital and the community was a central theme in fundraising, according to Joanne Gleba, the hospital’s senior director of Communications and Development.
“Putting this room together was a real family affair, with lots of people chipping in,” Ms. Gleba said.
“Of course, we had a great role model in Aggie. The room’s new name is meant to be a lasting thank you for her generosity, but also it’s a sign of how we feel about her.”
Thursday’s presentation was held during an afternoon-long employee appreciation event. At 2:30, Ms. Scott’s family and friends began to arrive, unexpected by her.
Hospital employees stopped by for the presentation as well, and Ms. Scott passed around punch and cookies, along with hugs and kisses.
Then, Mr. Stein presented the room’s plaque with “Aggie Scott Patient Activity Room” on it.
“This was our family project under your leadership,” Mr. Stein said, laughing. “I can lay it on thick because you deserve it.”