Your Little Current Hospital Auxiliary held its November meeting recently. This time of year is usually busy as we are into our regular activities and fundraising programs so our agenda was longer than usual. We also have lots of news.
We will be out and about over the next month or so as we continue to have our Christmas Cash Raffle tickets available for sale. Our draw will be held December 18 at hospital admitting at 3 pm. Tickets are $5 each and the prizes are $1,000 for first prize, second prize is $500 with three additional prizes of $100 each. We will again have our stained glass Christmas tree decorations available for purchase in memory of deceased family members or friends. Your card of remembrance will hang on our tree at the hospital admitting area throughout the Christmas season. The decorations are $6 each.
The auxiliary has embarked on a program that we hope will catch your attention and give you the opportunity to assist us every month in raising funds for the auxiliary and subsequently the ongoing hospital’s patient and equipment needs. A number of our members have committed to participate each month in the purchase of prepaid cards for their everyday grocery, gas, household and gift needs. We hope to be able to add participants so that we can increase the commissions that the auxiliary receives each month. The hospital has been very supportive in this endeavor and is encouraging their staff to consider the program. Fundscrip is the name of the program and you will notice that the hospital maintenance staff has mounted a lockbox for us at our Tuck Shop. If you presently make your purchases with cash or debit card, you may wish to consider purchasing some prepaid cards to assist us. The auxiliary will receive an average commission of three percent of the total purchases of cards each month. As an example, if one decided to purchase $300 of prepaid cards each month the auxiliary would receive a commission of approximately $9 each month that you generate for us. You will find both long and short order forms in the Fundscrip display.
Barbara Baker, our vice president and Fundscrip coach and coordinator, prepared the short form which includes the most popular retailers and service providers on the Island and in Espanola and Sudbury. This is the ideal time to purchase those gift cards for Christmas giving. November card orders should be dropped off by the 24th so the orders can be placed and received by early December. You just have to fill out the form and attach your cheque and drop it in our lock box. We will arrange to get the cards to you on their arrival. If you would like to inquire further, please contact Barb Baker at 705-368-3114.
We will be participating in the annual Christmas Fair at the United Church November 28 and 29. We have also scheduled our annual Christmas Cookie Walk at the Anglican Church on Saturday, November 29 from nine o’clock until noon. Debbie Heise is organizing this event and will be calling for your donations of baking. You may contact Debbie at 705-368-3044 if you are able to assist her. Thanking you in advance for your support of our events.
Thank you to Sue Lafreniere and her committee for organizing the Fall Fair and Bake Sale Thanksgiving weekend. The weather was good and it was a successful fundraising event. Thank you for your contributions of baking and harvest items.
The donations that you make regularly to the auxiliary In-Memoriam Fund in remembrance of deceased family members and friends at the funeral home or hospital have allowed us to further assist the hospital with some of their capital equipment needs for the various hospital departments. We recently donated $10,000 for the purchase of an anti-wandering device, three wheel chairs, a wheelchair for bariatric patients, a bi-level positive air way pressure device, a standard commode chair and a commode chair for bariatric patients.
Elaine Moore made a presentation on behalf of Gwen and Ed Bond. They wished to show the families’ appreciation to the auxiliary for the TV and cable service we provide. Gwen is donating a queen size quilt cover and the necessary materials for assembly. Thank you to the Bond family for this generous gift.
Mark your calendar! Laila has a book sale scheduled for November 14 and 15 in the hospital cafeteria. The times are Friday from 6 to 8 pm and the Saturday times are from 9 am to 2 pm. We want to thank everyone for their donations of books. We have quite a supply at the moment so please call Laila before dropping any off to us. You may contact her at 705-368-2580. We want to thank Laila and Glorea Myronuk and their helpers for the commitment to this fundraising activity. As well as the sales that are organized through the year, Laila lugs books back and forth to have them available at the Farmer’s Market during the summer.
Two of our members attended the Hospital Auxiliary Association of Ontario annual conference in Toronto early this month. Marilee Hore and Dianne Musgrove attended the conference on our behalf to participate in the various workshops provided and to gather information that was shared to assist us in our endeavors. We are fortunate to have these members as part of our auxiliary and able to benefit from their experience. Marilee is immediate past president of the north central region of HAAO. Dianne is currently serving as first vice president of the region.
The 45th Annual Awards Night for the Manitoulin Secondary School this year is December 18th at 7:30 pm. Our hospital auxiliary will be sponsoring a $1,000 award for a graduate that will be furthering their education in health services. Congratulations to all graduates.
Our next meeting will be a dinner meeting December 4 at the Anchor Inn at 5:30 pm. Marilee will be making calls but you may contact her at 705-368-2547 if you wish to attend.
A reminder if you haven’t dropped off your membership fee. Contact membership Chair Leona Sylvester at 705-368-1709.
Due to the holidays the January auxiliary meeting will be held Tuesday the 6th in the hospital board room at 7 pm. Please note that it will be Tuesday in January and not the usual Thursday.
In closing, the auxiliary wishes to express sincere condolences to the families of Wavy Ross and Irene Wood-Cadieux in recognition and appreciation of their long time service to our auxiliary.
Christmas and New Year greetings to all!
