Photo (front row): Terri Renwanz, Shannon Hansen, Shaunna Hadley and Gretchen Davis (back row): Brenda Muir, Nancy Houska, Rona Challen, Kiara Wilson, Megan Saffell, Teresa Morlan, Kathy Kempffer and Joyce Kurth.
JEFFERSON, Iowa – What started as a delicious treat for Greene County Medical Center Team Members has blossomed into a heartfelt effort that is now putting smiles on the faces of young patients and their families.
Last October, the Greene County Medical Center Auxiliary brewed up a fresh fundraising idea in partnership with CHiRP Coffee. Their collaboration quickly became a hit among staff and it’s now paying dividends for the Family Medicine Clinic, where proceeds were recently used to purchase more than $800 worth of toys and books for the waiting room.
“Ever since CHiRP opened their doors, there has been a real buzz around the medical center,” said Nancy Houska, Director of the Greene County Medical Center Foundation. “Their fun, flavorful drinks and treats were already popular, so the idea of turning that into something that benefits our patients just clicked.”
Now, Team Members can visit the Gift Garden in the main lobby and choose from a special CHiRP Coffee menu. Their drinks are then delivered on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, providing a midweek pick-me-up that also supports a great cause.
For CHiRP Coffee owners, Rona Challen, Shannon Hansen, Terri Renwanz and Carrie Peters, this project aligns perfectly with their vision of community connection. “This is the kind of thing we love to do,” said Challen. “We have hosted a free movie and are planning to do that again this July, supported the summer reading program at the library, delivered treats and drinks to teachers and handed out T-shirts to students. It is all about giving back to our community in meaningful ways.”
The joy isn’t just for the customers. “It’s incredibly rewarding for our Auxiliary volunteers to see how much our Team enjoys this service,” Houska added. “It’s a win-win. Our staff gets a treat, and our patients benefit from a warm, welcoming space.”
And none of it would be possible without the team behind the coffee counter. “We’re lucky to have 28 amazing people working with us,” said Challen. “From teens to retirees, they’re full of heart, ideas and community spirit. They help create new recipes, bring energy to everything we do and they really care about the people we serve.” From the first sip to the last smile, this partnership proves that great things happen when local passion meets a shared purpose.
Over the course of the past fiscal year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025), the Auxiliary has also provided free coffee to all Team Members and visitors at the medical center, supported the purchase of new scopes, donated toward nursing certifications and subscriptions, treated staff to pizza during Hospital Week, covered taxi service expenses and awarded scholarships to local students pursuing healthcare-related careers.