Courtesy of The Twig
A home on Cameron St.
A group of women have been providing financial aid, volunteer service and support to Inova Alexandria Hospital for nearly a century, since 1933.
The non-profit was named The Twig to describe its role as a small branch of the “tree” which supports the hospital. Over a thousand women have been a part of the group over the decades and have raised $4.5 million for hospital programs and equipment as well as $100,000 in scholarships for nurses.
Two of the largest fundraisers for the group are its thrift shop and the annual Alexandria Historic Homes Tour — and the homes tour is set for Sept. 24 this year.
Guests have the opportunity to tour a half dozen Alexandria homes which often contain unique structures, curated artwork and historical collections. The homes rotate so each year is different. (From Sept. 15 to Sept. 30, Made in ALX will present art by Betsy Grady-Carey, who has painted each home on the tour for several years.)
The 2020 homes tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and 2021 pivoted to a garden tour, but the tour will return to its original format this year. “We are looking forward to resuming an in-home tour and the ladies of the committee are putting it together," said Rachel Bishop, who co-chaired last year, and is continuing to co-chair this year alongside Cathy Kilcoyne.
Some of the group’s most recent pledges have raised funds for Inova’s Simulation Skills lab, which uses realistic anatomic models and simulated rooms for staff to practice team building, procedures and surgical skills, making the patient experience safer during real-life scenarios.
Prior to that, The Twig raised funds to renovate the Cardiovascular Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit. The organization also raised critical funds in 2020 for the COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness Fund.
The women of Twig will be featured as part of an upcoming exhibit at the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum called “Alexandria Hospital: Women Mobilize the Community.” The exhibit coincides with Alexandria Hospital's 150th anniversary this year.
“This exhibit is to honor the fact that the hospital has been around for 150 years and also that women have played a huge part in its growth,” said Twig member Janet Hawkins. Oral histories from past Twig members and other women associated with the hospital over the decades will be featured. “Museum visitors will learn about the hospital's founding and facilities, patient care and how it has flourished because local women marshalled support from the community," said Kris Lloyd, with the Office of Historic Alexandria.
The exhibition explores hospital history such as the facility opening on the 700 block of Duke Street in 1917, the Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing [which operated from 1894-1987], and the community's role ranging from donating food and goods at Thanksgiving, to the furnishing of the African American wards by the Colored Citizen Association, the Board of Lady Managers continuing assistance and The Twig organization's support of nursing facilities and education. The exhibit will open in October and be on display through October 2023.
