Hospital Auxiliary members Elly Huhle, Camille Crozier and Helen Whiteway are seen here at the auxiliary’s Port Perry Hospital gift shop
“What a pretty little shop!” When browsing the shelves of the Port Perry Hospital’s gift shop, visitors are often amazed to find an exquisite array of handmade gifts.
However, discovering that each handmade gift, as well as the shop itself, is lovingly created and fostered by a team of dedicated volunteers is even more remarkable.
The Hospital’s gift shop is just the beginning in a long line of extraordinary endeavours lead by the Auxiliary to Lakeridge Health for Port Perry.
For over 50 years, the Auxiliary’s team of volunteers has played an essential role within the hospital. Since 2005 alone, they have raised over 450,000 dollars!
However, the amount of dollars raised is not nearly as impressive as the Auxiliary’s commitment to helping others.
Every day, members of the Auxiliary keep one ultimate goal in mind: to make the patients feel as comfortable as possible.
This motive is reflected in the daily services the Auxiliary volunteers perform at the hospital, such as providing water and monitoring scheduled television time. Volunteers also dedicate their time to directing patients as they arrive for day surgery and ensuring they feel at ease within the hospital environment.
And when a patient needs a taste of home, the Auxiliary volunteers are the first to deliver and, in some cases, read emails sent to patients from loved ones.
While their commitment to everyday hospital chores is notable, this motive to support the best in patient care is all the more present in the numerous fundraising activities the Auxiliary holds throughout the year.
Whether polar bear plunging or “begging for money on the streets,” as Auxiliary President, Elly Huhle, likes to call it, every event serves to preserve the wonderful patient care the Port Perry Hospital is known for.
Elly is particularly proud of this past year’s turnout. The Auxiliary’s two biggest fundraising events, the Polar Bear Plunge and Tag Day, both brought in exceedingly higher proceeds than past years. While the Polar Bear Plunge generated over 10, 000 dollars for the Hospital, the latter brought in over 12, 000 dollars.
Noreen (Toots) Malcolm (back) is in her 57th year as a member of the Port Perry Hospital Auxiliary and remembers clearly when it was formed in 1952. With her is Jeannie Muir who has served on the auxiliary for the past 13 years.
These numbers prove to be a wonderful accomplishment for the Auxiliary volunteers. However, Jeannie Muir (a member of the Auxiliary who has been with the hospital since 1981) does admit that, despite their best efforts, successful fundraising is becoming more of a difficult feat.
“Bake sales just aren’t what they used to be,” says Jeannie. With a look of concern, she explains that such projects are simply not enough, alone, to generate the necessary proceeds.
With this fact in mind, the Auxiliary has had to come up with new and innovative ways to further their fundraising efforts. As Elly says, “Our focus is on the comfort of the patient and our focus has never changed. Our ways of doing things however, have definitely changed.”
Even if it means driving around collecting empty bottles from restaurants, Elly and the rest of the Auxiliary members are determined to do all they can to make a difference.
“Every little effort counts, the small things really add up,” says Jeannie. In their first year collecting empty bottles, the Auxiliary raised 1,400 dollars for the hospital. This past year, they are happy to announce they collected over 2,500 dollars!
In hopes of furthering their accomplishments, Jeannie and her husband leave a box at the end of their driveway (465 McDonald Street) for anyone who wishes to drop off bottles.
Both Elly and Jeannie would also like to thank the restaurants that have worked in co-operation with the Auxiliary’s bottle pickup, including Cassidy Pub and Grill, Piano Cafe and Crabby Joe’s. Despite all the wonderful ways these restaurants have helped, the team is always looking for more businesses to get involved.
Fortunately, as Elly mentions, the Auxiliary has a great support system behind them.
“We are very lucky in this community,” says Elly with a look of pride that is impossible to ignore. “We have over 100 volunteers and the supplies for all these events literally come from their pockets.”
Elly explains that volunteers are willing to bake, knit and donate materials on top of their time. Her appreciation for these individuals is beyond expressible, but Elly’s smile could pass as enough indication. “It’s always the same ones who give so much,” she adds.
As a new year begins, Elly, Jeannie and the rest of the Auxiliary team are looking forward to donating as much of their time and efforts to the hospital as possible.
Although the real reward is seeing all the smiling faces, whether it be from hospital patients or volunteers, Elly explains there are many reasons the Auxiliary stays motivated to work so hard.
“I have never seen another group of women who work so well together,” she says, referring to the other members as her inspiration. “We all have the same objective in mind.”
Elly says she volunteered at many hospitals in Toronto, prior to her move to Port Perry four years ago. “Personally, I find it quite satisfying,” she says. “It really pleases me to do something for someone else.”
It is undeniable that this compassion for helping others is shared by all the Auxiliary members. Throughout the hospital, it’s an everyday custom to encounter a cheerful volunteer in a coral jacket.
Whether he or she is greeting patients, running errands or offering a hand in the gift shop, their presence in the hospital and within the community is a true gift. However, it is a gift that needs to be upheld and, therefore, there is always a need for more volunteers.
For more information about the Port Perry Auxiliary or to inquire about becoming a member, contact JoAnne Koury (Administrative Assistant and Volunteer Liaison) at 905-985-7321 ext. 5501.
Christina Coughlin
Focus on Scugog
Personalities
