Spreading sunshine in the dark days of a pandemic

By Sharon White | Photography by JUSTIN BORJA and contributed by BSWH

On any given day, the hallways at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple buzz with swarms of patients, visitors and staff. But two weeks after the president declared a “national emergency” on Friday, the 13th of March, an eerie emptiness fell upon BS&W corridors, along with locked entrances and lonely parking lots the likes of which have never been seen before.

A calamitous virus had infected the world and had made its way to Texas—inciting fear, uncertainty and danger. It was as if all of America had come to a devastating standstill on a catastrophic scale. Almost everyone at BS&W had been sent home to ride out the storm, everyone except essential workers and trained medical personnel, who were left to prepare for an uncertain onslaught.

But two longtime staff members refused to step away from their posts at the Sunshine Gift Shop, a small, nonprofit, volunteer-operated store providing drinks, snacks, gifts, flowers and sundries. They remained committed, and ready to supply the dedicated medical teams some respite from the chaos—a bit of cheer—with smiles, sodas and an assortment of chocolate.

At a time when only “essential businesses” in the state had been directed to stay open, BS&W Volunteer Services Manager Nancy Zimmerman and Sunshine Gift Shop Manager George Hitt could have retreated to the safety of their homes during the quarantine. But, instead, theirs was a swift decision to keep the doors of the tiny shop open.

“We have about 100 volunteers in our program,” Zimmerman says. “We lost all of them when the pandemic hit, including 25 gift shop volunteers who took shifts throughout the week. And although our hours of operation were reduced, because we were short-staffed, we never completely closed our doors. We wanted to give the medical staff and personnel some sense of normalcy—a place where they could come and take a breather during those long and difficult shifts.

“Our goal has always been to provide whatever it takes to serve patients, and families—whether that be a cup of coffee, a warm blanket or something to read. It’s all about making an unpleasant situation as pleasant as it can be. In this case, we were here to serve our own co-workers.”

It remained “business as usual” during the quarantine for Zimmerman and Hitt, who strive to deliver a personal touch at the shop. Manager of nine years, Hitt says, “We never thought about closing. We took all the basic precautions and just moved on, even though it was just the two of us.”

“We tried to think up ways to keep staff morale up,” says Zimmerman, who has been the manager of Volunteer Services at BS&W for the past 13 years. “Some weeks we offered special discounts, or a gift with purchase. We often dubbed Fridays as free chocolate day. We even delivered snacks to workers via our ‘Care Cart.’”

And the BS&W staff appreciated their efforts.

Health Unit Coordinator/Patient Care Technician Laura Patterson says, “Every day in the ICU we were so unsure of what the pandemic was bringing us. The unit looked so different. The gift shop was our getaway. The minute you stepped inside, everything looked beautiful and smelled beautiful.” Patterson, who has worked in ICU for over 11 years, loves going into the shop. “It means a lot to be able to run away for a little bit to a peaceful place. It makes it easier to get through the day.”

Anyone who has visited BS&W has, no doubt, encountered a volunteer at one time or another. After 53 years and thousands of hours of service, hopefully volunteers will soon be back to continue their work providing assistance to patients and families. In the meantime, the Sunshine Gift Shop remains committed to personal service. And there is never a charge for the “cheer.”

How a cart evolved into a chic boutique

The Scott & White Hospital “Auxiliary” was organized in 1967. The majority of its first members were wives of Scott & White staff who recognized the value and importance of an auxiliary that could add a personal touch to a hospital setting.

The group became known as “The Yellow Birds.” Baylor Scott & White Health Volunteer Services Manager Nancy Zimmerman recalls, “Volunteers were dubbed ‘Yellow Birds’ because they wore yellow pinafores and exuded a “cheery” attitude. But, in 2012, the color of our uniforms changed to turquoise, to more closely align with the colors of Baylor Scott & White.”

In the early years, Yellow Birds actively worked on two hospital floors and helped in the emergency room. A drugstore cart, often weighing more than the volunteers who pushed it, offered newspapers, magazines, gum, candy and toiletries to hospital patients. The official opening of the Scott & White Sunshine Gift Shop came in 1978.

Proceeds from the gift shop and special sales have raised thousands of dollars over the years, which have gone directly into the purchase of needed supplies and equipment for the clinic and hospital. In recent years, funds were provided for an updated security system requested by the Labor and Delivery Department and acquiring a “distraction machine” for the pediatric patients at McLane Children’s Hospital.

The Sunshine Gift Shop sells much more than sodas, snacks and sundries. You can find an assortment of high-end items like Fossil watches, Ray Ban sunglasses, and designer fragrances for men and women, Consuela handbags, jewelry, luxury candles and home décor.

George Hitt, who has worked in retail for over 43 years says, “When I became manger, I always envisioned creating a destination gift shop that carried unique items you couldn’t find anywhere else. And I think our customers appreciate the variety and quality of our merchandise.”