Childerguild Gift Shop Celebrates 75 Years
Seventy-five years ago, a group of women who had demonstrated their devotion to women’s and children’s services at Silver Cross Hospital for 30+ years – including through the famed Childerguild Ball – found another way to raise money for the cause: the Childerguild Gift Shop at Silver Cross.
The shop officially opened its doors June 4, 1950, in a small space on the hospital’s former Joliet campus. It was adjacent to the hospital’s pharmacy and sold items donated from members, as well as special orders. There were handmade booties, bed jackets, baby bibs and potted plants. One of the auxiliary members, Ailene Landmann, made and donated over 100 stuffed animals herself.
A lot has changed over seven-and-a-half decades, including the shop’s highly sought after merchandise that features jewelry, women’s and baby’s clothing, books, décor and more.
To celebrate its momentous anniversary, the gift shop hosted special events all week.
“We’ve planned a week of events including raffles running the entire week, fresh-baked cookies on Tuesday, 75-cent candy bars for sale on Thursday and on Friday, 10% off purchases along with a birthday cake to finish out our celebration,” said Robin Hartney, who has spent 24 of her 40 years at Silver Cross volunteering with Childerguild.
“This is a small way to have some fun and thank everyone for their support throughout the years.”
“The words ‘thank you’ seem so inadequate to convey the depth of our gratitude for Childerguild,” said Michael Mutterer, RN, MA, LCPC, CADC, LNHA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Silver Cross Hospital. “Their collective efforts have improved the lives of countless women and children in our communities by ensuring they have ready access to the very best care…close to home.”
From Humble Beginnings
The women of Childerguild borrowed $500 from their club funds to open a hospital gift shop; prior to the shop’s opening, members sold goods to patients, pushing carts from room to room. And the investment proved to be a wonderful one.
The first month alone, the shop made $248.08. By the end of the year, proceeds repaid the $500 loan and netted a $1,100 profit. Two years and seven months later, that total was $10,000.
Seventy-five years later, the Childerguild Gift Shop has helped raise more than $6.8 million for Women’s and Children’s health services at the new Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.
A brand-new shop opened in the spacious lobby of Silver Cross’ New Lenox replacement hospital in 2012, and it’s been a favorite destination of patients, visitors and hospital staff alike.
“When we moved into the space in the new hospital, our sales took off,” Hartney said. “Today, we no longer sell handmade goods but offer jewelry, flowers, balloons, gifts for babies, mothers and nurses.” We are also known for our annual Christmas grand opening, which will happen this year on Nov. 3.”
Special People, Special Place
Hartney said she’s proud of what Childerguild has done to support Women’s and Children’s Services at Silver Cross, but she was ecstatic when the hospital opened its 24-bed Amy, Matthew and Jay Vana Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in summer 2022.
Childerguild donated a NAVA (neurally adjusted ventilatory assist) system earlier this year that makes it even easier for NICU babies to breathe comfortably. Unlike traditional ventilators that rely on clinician input to determine respiratory rate, volume and pressure, NAVA uses the electrical activity of the baby’s diaphragm to adjust ventilation.
This puts the infant and the ventilator much more in sync, meaning breaths are delivered at the right time and with the appropriate support, helping to preserve respiratory muscle function and reduce complications.
“When my daughter recently had her baby, there were complications,” Hartney said. “We were very fortunate to have the NICU with the staff and physicians available to us. They identified the issue and through our partnership with Lurie Children’s Hospital, transferred him to receive surgery within hours instead of days. This level of care and caring meant a lot to our entire family.”
Hartney said Childerguild is always looking for volunteers and the process has changed over the years.
“In the past, membership was only available to women who had no children,” she explained. “Today, all inquiries go through an interview process, and then candidates are recommended to our active members. Members are required to work at least one day in the shop and attend our monthly members’ meetings.
“Most importantly, we look for women who have a passion for children and looking for a way to give back to our communities. Sharing this common mission builds strong friendships and joy knowing you are making a difference. From the stuffed animal to the child in the ER, to the woman receiving her mammogram, what we do makes a difference.”
To learn more about the Childerguild Gift Shop, visit silvercross.org.
