By Haley Mitchell Godwin

The Crenshaw County Pink Ladies, known for their iconic pink scrubs and unwavering dedication to serving the community, recently donated over $1,900 to the Crenshaw County Community Hospital Foundation. 

The foundation, established as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in 2022, focuses on facilitating fundraising endeavors for the Crenshaw Community Hospital, ensuring that the ever-evolving health care needs of the local community are met. In recognition of this contribution, on Aug. 16 a commemorative plaque was placed on a prominent wall within the hospital. 

The Pink Ladies have long been a cherished part of the Crenshaw County Community Hospital (CCH), offering invaluable support to both health care professionals and patients. However, in 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic forced a halt to their volunteering activities. Their absence has been keenly felt, and it is uncertain if and when they will resume. 

“In the past we have had enough volunteers for there to be someone here each day,” said Lalar Tomlin, president of The Crenshaw County Hospital Pink Ladies since 2015. “So many of our volunteers have passed away, but if we could get some younger people interested in volunteering, we could begin to build all that back up. 

“Our motto is ‘the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others.’ All of the Pink Ladies have volunteered not for any kind of personal gain, but just because we have felt the need to give a helping hand, to do something to help other people.”

The Pink Ladies have been instrumental in providing vital support to the hospital, including tasks ranging from carrying ice, water and snacks to patients’ rooms, to maintaining waiting rooms and tending to plants. Their initiatives have included funding purchases such as wet umbrella bags and stands, Bibles for patient rooms, Christmas wreaths and more. 

“The Pink Ladies are incredibly missed at Crenshaw County Community Hospital,” said CCH CEO, David Hughes, “They were the first thing you would see when entering the hospital. The Pink Ladies didn’t provide health care, but they freely provided compassion and made so many people feel better about their situation. Their donation to the foundation and their dedication to the community is greatly appreciated.”

Hughes expressed a potential avenue for collaboration to bolster the Pink Ladies’ ranks in the future.

Hughes explained the significance of the foundation, “A hospital foundation is a way for the community to help with health care and health care services through their financial support. It is not just about the hospital, but the overall health care needs of the community.”

Those interested in supporting the Crenshaw Community Hospital Foundation’s mission can reach out to foundation chairperson Travis Colquitt at tcolquett@brantleybank.com to explore donation options.