MHC Auxiliary’s recent meeting was Thursday, March 12. We had some catching up to do as our scheduled February meeting was a snow day. With our annual community casserole dinner on March 15, there were a number of items to cover.
Correspondence at our meeting consisted of a thank you note from Kendra Jordison for the graduation bursary she received. Kendra is studying health nutrition at Guelph University.
We also received information on the annual north central regional auxiliary meeting. With the disbanding of the Hospital Auxiliary Association of Ontario, it is hoped that the region will decide to stay together and meet each year to share in a number of workshops, ideas on fundraising and hear insightful speakers on health-related issues. The regional auxiliaries will meet May 3, 4 and 5 in Elliot Lake hosted by St. Joseph General Hospital auxiliary. This year’s theme is “Health Challenges In Northern Ontario.” There will be four workshops, One Client-One Care Plan, Prescription for a Healthy Community, Indigenous Perspective on Health Care and a workshop on Auxiliary Survival in Northern Ontario.
The turnout for our February book sale was not as well attended as we wished. A few dollars were made but it does entail a lot of work. There may be another later in the spring but we can be assured that books will be available at the farmers’ market this summer. We continue to welcome your book donations. Please call Laila at 705-368-2580 to arrange delivery of any books that you would like to donate.
We ask that you watch for our coin collection boxes around town. They have proved to be a welcome additional fundraiser for us. People have been quite generous with their loose change.
Thank you to 3 Cows and a Cone, The Anchor Inn, Hilltop Shell, Barney’s Bargain Barn, Green Acres Restaurant and Manitoulin Brewing for allowing us a space for our coin boxes.
Dave Sylvester, hospital board liaison gave a report on a number of items from the recent hospital board meeting. He advised of an additional spine assessment and educational program in the physio department and a new service referral program being offered by our EMS paramedics in the community for physical assessment, medication compliance, fall risk, mobility and a general wellness assessment. He also shared a recent media release from the North East LHIN on digital health advancements.
Well, we can claim another successful fundraising event. Considering the long tough winter, we were pleased to see a full house at the casserole dinner. We were still dealing with icy winter conditions. This event has become an annual early spring outing for the community to come together and enjoy a nice meal, socialize with old friends and enjoy the musical stylings of Maurice Labelle and Dough Hore. Both Doug and Maurice are members of the auxiliary and we can count on them as our entertainment draw.
We were pleased to have our new MHC Hospital CEO Lynn Foster join us. We were able to present Lynn with a donation in the amount of $21,000. These funds were derived from our Tuck Shop sales and HELLP Lottery ticket sales, our annual fundraising events and your donations to our memoriam fund in memory of a family members or friend. Lynn expressed the hospital board’s appreciation for the years of dedication and work of our Manitoulin Health Centre Auxiliary. The funds will assist in the purchase of hospital equipment needs for patient services in Little Current.
Sue Lafreniere has coordinated this annual event for a number of years. Sue makes all the calls to members for casserole and cake donations, she contacts Valumart, Foodland, 3 Cows and a Cone and the Anchor Inn for various items. We wish to express our thanks for their contributions.
Carole Labelle is our PR director looking after the colourful posters around town. Carole also looks after radio, TV and newspaper promotion and our Facebook page news. We wish to thank everyone for their support. Carole also showed her talents with this year’s St. Patrick’s Day decorations. A thank you also to Laidley Office Supply for the paper donations for Carole’s posters.
We also want to thank our membership for their time and effort in preparing and donating their casseroles and cakes.
We welcome anyone interested in becoming an auxiliary member to help with our fundraising efforts. You are welcome to attend a monthly meeting for insight into our work. We meet every second Tuesday at 7 pm in the 3rd floor boardroom. Those interested may call our President Dawn Orr, 705-368-2608, or Membership Chair Leona Sylvester, 705-368-1709.
Our Annual General Meeting for committee reports and election of officers will follow our regular nest month on April 9 meeting.
