Fall brings the busiest time of the year for the active members of the Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

Events kicked off last week with Britches and Bows.

Coming two weeks later, just in time for Christmas shopping, will be the always popular $5 Masquerade Jewelry Sale, also in the classroom. The sale will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3.

Special this fall will be leggings, stick-on initials and a wide selection of Demopolis Tiger articles.

The members will sponsor a blood drive for United Blood Services on Tuesday, Oct. 14. This year UBS will bring a Bloodmobile, which will be set up in the Oncology Center parking lot at the hospital.

Members of the Auxiliary will be headed for Mobile Oct. 12-15 for the fall conference of the Alabama Council of Hospital Auxiliary.

Coming Nov. 20-21 will be the Uniform Sale, also in the classroom, providing apparel for medical professionals and staff.

Finally, the calendar year will end with the biggest celebration of the Auxiliary year when members host the Love Lights ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 3.

The tree-lighting ceremony will mark the official kickoff of Christmas on the River. The event will introduce the COTR Special Child and feature music from a local choir.

Love Lights provides the Auxiliary will its biggest fund-raising event of the year. White and red lights are sold for $3 each or $5 for two in memory or in honor of a loved one. In addition, businesses and corporations are invited to support the Auxiliary with the purchase of wreaths that decorate the main hall of the hospital during the Christmas season.

All the fund-raising activities at the hospital help the Auxiliary to support BWWMH programs and facilities.

At its September meeting, the Auxiliary reelected its officers to serve a second term. Returning are Johnnie Knott, president; Carolyn Bell, vice president; Kathy Patterson, secretary; and Jan McDonald, treasurer.