The TWIGS 6 Thrift Shop has been in operation for more than 60 years and was one of the first TWIGS group projects created to support LMH. The Thrift Shop originally opened in 1950 in a portion of the old Granville firehouse. When the Prospect Street firehouse was built, the old building was torn down, and the Thrift Shop moved to a larger location above the Granville village offices. After leaving the village offices, TWIGS 6 purchased a small house on Broadway Street in Granville and operated the Thrift Shop in that location for many years.
When the house sold in the fall of 1964, the proceeds were donated to the Hospital. The Thrift Shop then moved to the Granville Shopping Center in 1988, and then relocated to a new location on Main Street between NAPA Auto Parts and Granville Milling in 2001. In 2011, the TWIGS 6 Thrift Shop relocated to 1865 Tamarack Road in Newark.
TWIGS 8 began in 1950 with two card tables on which they began selling baby items, candy, jewelry, etc., later moving to the end of the ramps in the old hospital. Items sold were all homemade. After every shift, merchandise was taken to the basement storeroom. They had a gift cart, which they used to take around the Hospital to sell items. The TWIGS 8 Gift Shop was open two hours in the afternoon and evening.
Currently, each member works two shifts per month. The TWIGS 8 Gift Shop is open every day of the week, except on holidays.
TWIGS 13 began in 1955 with 19 members. The first chairman was Mrs. David Freytag. Between the years, 1955-1961 they taste-tested General Mills products and co-hosted the Charity Ball in 1956 with TWIGS 4, 7, 9 and 10. In the past, they have had an Easter candy sale, a mink cape raffle, sold Christmas wrapping paper, and had an “old clothes” exchange. In 1957, they sold Christmas candles and ornaments. They were known as the “Candle TWIGS” for years because this was their major fundraising project. In 1963, they started having bake sales in the Armory. From 1965-1967, they also sold pecans.
The Ruth Lyons Christmas Fund was established at Licking Memorial Hospital in 1971 and continued through 1984. The ladies delivered toys to the children on the day they were admitted. The toy cart was popular with all the children. They also had small toys in the surgery area. In addition to giving toys, the ladies provided birthday cakes, had special gifts for all the holidays, and a special Christmas party. In 1971, Cincinnati television personalities Bob Braun, Rob Reider, Gwen Conley, and Dave McCoy came to LMH for a visit and were a highlight for the TWIGS.
TWIGS 24 began in 1994 with a group of Hospital employees. Their projects have included Mistletoe Tea, selling handcrafted items, and pumpkins at Halloween. Their current projects include vendor sales and vending machines. In January of 2004, TWIGS 12 joined TWIGS 24, since most of their members were older and only seven members remained. Today, members include current employees, retirees, and other members of the community.