Chairperson Jo Ann Thompson said the auxiliary normally hosts a tea in November as its major fundraiser, but owing to the 70th they decided to treat the community to a lunch on them. As it turned out attendees continued in their generous fashion by giving to a silver collection at the door.
Thompson described the focus of the Auxiliary is to provide to the comfort and welfare of recipients of health services and to the safety and well being of people in the community.
“Our goal continues to be raising funds to support services and continue to meet the ongoing needs of the community. Funds have been raised by various means over the past 70 years. Recently through the November general tea, the Florence Nightingale Spring Tea, donations from Donor’s Choice and funerary (in memoriam donations) and general donations have been the bulk of our financing.”
Branches of the original health auxiliary include Brown S.D., Coulter, Bede-Bernice, Chesterfield S.D., Broomhill, Coultervale, Elva, Peninsula, Tilston, Pierson, Lyleton and Waskada.
The Auxiliary’s activities/purchases (totaling $8,773) over the past year have included: a hand-held otoscope for the clinic, TV tables, hair cuts and floor fans at the PCH, Melita Handivan; scholarship (over the past 40 years over $24,000 has been given out in scholarships alone), bursaries, cookies at the clinic, hospital, PCH staff to mark World Health Day, Public Health Nurse stickers for children, Melita and
Area food pantry, Melita Christmas Cheer; oranges for staff at Christmas, flowers for residents of hospital who stay over Christmas, Town of Melita Central Park playground, summer day camp for snacks program and treating touring medical students and hosts to lunch.
“Projects we plan to complete this year, estimated at $7,000 include a breast pump for new mothers (Public Health), a bench to recognize Dr. Dizon’s years of service, renovations to the hairdressing room at the PCH and skeleton and blood pressure machine for the Melita clinic,” added Thompson.
Through the years the Auxiliary has supported the community in countless ways (purchases, talents and volunteering) including the community breast services mobile unit, educational displays at craft fairs, books collected for children’s hospital, Aidettes program, Palliative Care barbecues, World Elder Abuse Education Workshop, served refreshments at Sparkle Program in support of Palliative Care, members attended Age Friendly Manitoba Community meeting, placed breast cancer information in Melita Library, Telehealth, Electra beds, recliner chair, catering/serving at funerals, weddings, auctions etc., Senior Services of Antler River, Camp Bridges, ERIK kits and much more.
The Auxiliary strives to fulfill specific wish list items for the Melita Hospital that are not covered by the Health Authority. Many volunteers have shared their handy work skills such as sewing gowns, pillow covers, Candy Striper uniforms, compassion bags, tablecloths and mending. Also when it was permissible auxiliary members shared their garden vegetables and preserves.
Donations to the Health Auxiliary are spent only in the Melita and Area boundaries of the Health Auxiliary.
“Donations are held locally in our financial institutions and the RHA does not control where and how the monies are spent. We have complete autonomy over the selection and support of groups based on the previously outlined Purpose of the Health Auxiliary and as noted in our By Laws,” said Thompson.
Of particular note, the longest serving member is Nelda Wilkinson who has given 69 years of service, first with Bede-Bernice and then with Melita.
by JUDY WELLS, Recorder staff