If volunteerism is a measure, then the 65 members of the St. Camillus Women’s Guild have made the nation a kinder and gentler place. Since 1956, the staff at St. Camillus Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, and Retirement Living Home, Wauwatosa, has relied on the dedication of volunteers who donate time, energy and caring to make the lives better for St. Camillus residents.

They have logged more than 450,000 hours with twice-yearly fundraisers, games, holiday cookie deliveries, daily mail delivery, floral arrangements for new residents and by staffing the in-house thrift shop.

This year, the 172 guests of the guild’s 12th annual luncheon were treated to a fashion “Travelin’ Trunk Show” hosted by Goodwill Industries. The popular program was one of four offered by Goodwill, and served as a tribute to the wives of former United States presidents, explained Kathie Jensen, membership chairman and fundraiser coordinator.

“The show was really something,” she said. “We had to book it two years ahead of time. They started with Martha Washington and went all the way to Laura Bush. We had a combination fashion show and history lesson. It was wonderful.”

Funds raised from the annual luncheon go toward large items for the residents, such as a Wii system and games, wheel chairs, electric beds, Broda reclining chairs, pressure alternating mattresses and portable pulse oximeters.