The St. Luke&squo;s Hospital Auxiliary gathered its many members and volunteers on Tuesday to celebrate 60 years of service to the community.

About 125 people attended the group&squo;s anniversary luncheon at Midway Baptist Church in Columbus, including hospital officials who voiced their gratitude for the auxiliary&squo;s work.

&dquo;You guys are what makes the hospital float,&dquo; said St. Luke&squo;s Hospital CEO Cameron Highsmith. &dquo;We could not do the things we do without you.&dquo;

Woody Woodham of the St. Luke&squo;s Hospital Board of Trustees joked that he scrapped a 17-page speech and decided instead to say &squo;thank you&squo; 10 times to the group.&bsp; He asked them to multiple that by six for the six decades of service from the group.

St. Luke&squo;s Auxiliary, launched in 1948, has fulilled a wide range of duties over the years from caring for patients to raising funds for needed medical equipment.

Volunteers also greet visitors and patients, handle courier routes for medical reports, manage the gift shop and thrift shop,&bsp; perform clerical duties and work in the hospital&squo;s in-house print shop.

The auxiliary currently has about 250 members and volunteers. To learn more about the auxiliary or how to volunteer contact Connie Kuykendall at 894-3311.

Note: Look for more coverage on the auxiliary&squo;s 60-year anniversary in Friday&squo;s Bulletin.