FARMINGTON – China cups for tea and coffee lined the table as members of the Wilton Red Hat group and others participated in the Franklin Memorial Hospital Auxiliary membership tea Wednesday.

The Bass Room quickly filled with groups, including the Garden Club and Emblem Club, Red Hats and members of the community for an introduction to the efforts of the auxiliary.

New members are needed and welcome to help with auxiliary activities, President Shannon Smith said. She organized the event.

The auxiliary runs the hospital gift shop, sponsors a Farmington Fair exhibit and holds fundraisers such as food sales to support the work of the hospital, she said. A pocketbook sale, Bag Alley, was taking place in the hospital lobby and is another of the group’s projects, she said.

Those gathered for the tea heard about projects, including the purchase of a new mobile health unit from Heather Davis, bilirubin lights (to treat newborns’ jaundice) from Maryanne Goodwin, the healing garden by Don Garrison and a blanket warmer from Mary Keane. All were projects which the group has taken on this year.

The role of hospitalists at Franklin Memorial was described by speaker Dr. David Hyde who leads a group of six doctors, or hospitalists, who cover the hospital 24 hours a day, Smith said.

Diverse in many fields of practices, the hospital doctors work along with a patient’s primary care physician who can’t always be at the hospital to treat a patient or answer questions for the patient’s family, she said. Once someone is admitted, the hospitalists assume care for the patient and are on call at all times.

Along with entertainment provided by Doug and Sherry Walrath, Dr. David Dixon played piano selections while the group enjoyed tea and refreshments.

While many hospital volunteers are also members of the auxiliary, they are two different entities, she said. Auxiliary membership includes supporting the things the group does and attending three meetings per year unless someone is serving on the board, Smith said. A board of 25 meets the first Wednesday of every month to govern the auxiliary.

Some new members joined the auxiliary Wednesday. Membership is open to anyone, and those interested may call Smith at 778-4726.