Melba Baker: Volunteering is a big part of her life

The familiar face people see when walking into the lobby at SoutheastHEALTH of Stoddard County is Melba Baker. As a longtime member of the hospital Auxiliary, she and other volunteers with the Auxiliary provide information and helpful directions to visitors at the hospital and also staff the gift shop.

Melba was recently named Citizen of the Year by the Dexter Elks Lodge for her volunteer efforts with the local hospital, the Elks Auxiliary, Stoddard County Relay for Life and work at her church.

"Volunteering is a good motivator," Melba said. "It keeps me active and involved in the community."

Baker moved to Dexter in 1996 with her husband, Jim, after living in the St. Louis area for 40 years. Jim was employed with McDonald Douglas. Melba worked at middle schools in Overland as lead secretary for 25 years.

The Bakers raised their family in the St. Louis area. She and Jim have three children; Bob, Brett and Lisa. She was raised in Bernie, the daughter of Walter Claude and Ora Belle Thurston, and graduated from high school there. Jim is from Dexter.

After Jim's retirement, they moved to Dexter. Melba stayed at home that first year, but she was used to being active and began to look for something to occupy her time.

Submitted photo Melba Baker, at right, is shown receiving a plaque honoring her as the 2015 Dexter Elks Lodge Citizen of the Year. The award was presented by Dexter Elks Exalted Ruler Davy Crockett.

"I was either going to find a place to volunteer or go back to work," Melba recalled. "Staying at home wasn't an option."

Melba said she went to the local Senior Center with the idea of perhaps helping deliver food for the Meals on Wheels program. She found that the Center at that time had all the positions filled. She renewed a friendship with Emma Walker who also was from Bernie, and active in the Hospital Auxiliary. She invited Melba to become a member of the Auxiliary in 1998. Jim also joined the Auxiliary and remains active there.

It was a perfect fit. Since that time, Melba has served as vice president (2006-07), president (2008-09), secretary (2010-11), treasurer (2012-13) and again as president (2014-15).

The SoutheastHEALTH Auxiliary currently has 45 members, 36 of which are active in volunteer activities. The Auxiliary provides two volunteers for two 3 1/2 hour shifts each day. The volunteers man the desk in the front lobby and also the gift shop.

"We try to make people feel welcome and tell them where things are," said Baker. "Anything we can do to be of help."

She and her sister, Shirley Zimmerman, take a special interest in the Gift Shop. She starts plants from seed and pots each plant. Shirley, a good decorator Melba said, adds bows and other decorations. The live plants are then sold at the Gift Shop. Another sister, Mary Norman, is also on the Auxiliary as is her husband, Jack.

The role of the Auxiliary has changed over the years. When she first began volunteering at the hospital, it was run by what is now known as the Regional Healthcare Foundation, a non-profit. They leased the hospital to a private firm. More recently, the hospital was leased to SoutheastHEALTH, another non-profit. What the Auxiliary can provide is determined by the status of the ownership.

All proceeds from the Gift Shop go the Auxiliary, and they purchase equipment and supplies with those funds. The Auxiliary purchased the equipment in the kitchen including a new oven and steam tables. They also purchased a new therapy bed, patient information boards for the hospital rooms and a chemo chair in the new cancer treatment center.

The Auxiliary holds several fundraisers each year in addition to the money raised at the Gift Shop. They hold a luncheon in the spring and fall each year (held at the Church of Christ Fellowship Hall). They also sponsor a linen sale, a jewelry sale and two or three bake sales (Sweet Treat Sales) each year. The annual membership drive for the Auxiliary is held annually in February.

The Auxiliary awards seven scholarships each year, one to a senior in each of the seven school districts in the county. The scholarships are given to those pursuing a health field related career.

Melba is very active in the auxiliary at the Dexter Elks Lodge as well. Jim is active there, and she helps with many of the special events.

"The Elks do a lot of good things," Melba said. "They help people in need and support many local events that are beneficial to the community."

The Elks support Shop With a Hero, the Goodwill Games, award scholarships, contribute to local schools and many other activities. The Elks provide a meal to all Goodwill Games participants.

Melba sees the Elks Auxiliary as a support group for the Lodge. They help with special functions. The Elks Lodge provides a place for class reunions, receptions, political rallies, the annual Friends of the Library Fashion Show and a host of other special events. Melba frequently helps in the kitchen for those events.

The Elks Auxiliary also bought 400 chairs for the bingo room at the Lodge.

Melba is a cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in 2007. After eight weeks of radiation, she was pronounced cancer free. She has several family members who have been diagnosed with cancer and survived, so Relay for Life is important to her and her entire family. She and her family take part in the Survivor Lap each year, and she donates time to helping put on the annual event.

Melba is a familiar face the First United Methodist Church where she again shows her spirit of volunteerism. She volunteers at the church as door greeter, works in the kitchen for special events in Wesley Hall and helps send out prayer cards for those on the prayer list.

"I try to do whatever they may ask of me," Melba said.

Melba donates her time to helping at the Red Cross blood drive sponsored by the Rotary Club. She explained that each donor is given a snack after giving blood, and she helps serve those snacks.

Volunteering is a way of life for Melba. She sees it as a way to stay vital and healthy, both physically and mentally.

"I look forward to getting out and being with people," concluded Melba. "It is doing what you can do to help."