​Kincardine hospital auxiliary raises almost $11,000 at Holiday Sale and Tea Room

The South Bruce Grey Health Centre – Kincardine hospital auxiliary raised $10,961.05 at the Holiday Sale and Tea Room, held Nov. 17-18, at the Inverlyn Lake Estates club room.

That news was shared by hospital gift shop conveners Tracy Robinson and Brigitte Rauket at the auxiliary’s Christmas luncheon, held Wednesday at Ainsdale Golf Course.

Rauket thanked all the volunteers who work in the gift shop and everyone who assisted with the sale and tea room. She gave special thanks to Ginny Ross and her team who organized the tea room and baked goods sale, and to all the bakers who made the delicious treats that were enjoyed.

Thanks also went to everyone who helped set up for the sale and clean up afterwards, and to all those who were cashiers  at the check-out table and helpers throughout the two days.

“This was truly a teamwork event,” she said.

Rauket said the sale brought in $5,362.10 on the Friday (Nov. 17) and $3,380 on the Saturday (Nov. 18), while the tea room brought in $2,218.95, for a total of $10,961.05. All the money raised goes toward purchasing new equipment for the Kincardine hospital.

At the luncheon, auxiliary president Cheryl Rogers welcomed about 40 members and guests, including Jim Bagshaw, chairman of the health centre board; Michelle Scime-Summers, vice-president of patient care and chief nursing executive; and Becky Fair, president of the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation.

“Our fund-raising activities have been amazing this year and I am proud of our efforts,” said Rogers. “We have achieved great things.”

The auxiliary presented a cheque for $40,000 to the hospital foundation. This year’s money will go toward purchasing a trauma stretcher, a casting cart, a Broda chair, a patient bed, a vital signs machine, a phlebotomy chair, physiotherapy wheelchair cushions, and a ring cutter.

Scime-Summers brought greetings from Nancy Shaw, president and chief executive officer of the health centre.

“Thank you all for the wonderful work you do,” she said. “It is greatly appreciated by the staff, the organization and the patients. I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.”

Bagshaw said the auxiliary’s hard work in fund-raising for new equipment at the hospital helps the patients and doctors, and assists in recruiting new people to the organization.

“New doctors and nurses are attracted to an organization that has up-to-date equipment,” he said. “It also helps retain the doctors and nurses we have.

“Every year, I’m astounded by the amount of money raised by this incredible hospital auxiliary. Thank you very much and have a happy holiday.”

Fair echoed those sentiments, saying the auxiliary and the foundation are extensions of each other.

“We thank you so much for everything you do,” she said. “So many items can be purchased with the money you raised. It is greatly appreciated. You are an amazing group of individuals, and what you do is incredible. Happy holidays!”

Rogers said the hospital auxiliary presented its first donation to the foundation in 1995. Including the $40,000 donation Wednesday, the group has donated a total of $816,205 to the hospital foundation.

“That’s thanks to each and every member of this auxiliary,” she said. “Everyone who helped with the fund-raising all year, and with the holiday sale and tea room.

“Thanks to our high profile through our media support and social media, we are the face of the hospital. And we’re always recruiting new members.”

Donna Mowry installed the new executive which includes past-president Cheryl Rogers, president Jeanne Lindsay, first vice-president Tracy Capeling, second vice-president Lesley MacGregor, treasurer Wilma Manary and press reporter Liz Nurton.