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2012 Annual Valentine’s Potluck Luncheon |
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At our recent Valentine’s Potluck Luncheon on Thursday, February 9th, Twenty Eight Volunteers joined in celebrating birthdays for our “Venerable Ruth” who turned 97 on January 14th, Grace Holmes who turned 90 on January 29th and Deb Reed who will be turning 91 on February 25th. A Good Time was had by all – see photo of Ruth, Deb and Grace as well as a photo collage from our luncheon in the Headwateras Health Care photo gallery section. Ruth and Deb are still actively volunteering at our Hospital! Ruth, Deb and Grace have put in a total of 278 years of volunteering. |
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Lennox and Addington Celebrates New Office – 10 New Members! |
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Volunteer Services to Lennox and Addington County General Hospital used to work out of ‘the old morgue’ in the bowels of the hospital. That all changed in early 2011, when, thanks to renovations at our hospital and the insistence of the CEO, Volunteer Services was awarded a beautiful new office on the second floor where sunshine pours through the window.
We were supplied with state-of-the-art technical equipment and furniture, giving us a real office with filing cabinets, a conference table, office desks and of course, a computer and printer. We are proud of our new space and decided to have an Open House during Volunteer Week to show it off. Like so many other projects, it grew like Topsy! We prepared brochures announcing it and put a notice into the local papers. Please see the photo gallery for pictures.
Many folks in our community, and indeed many of our volunteers, had not had an opportunity to see the latest renovations to our hospital. We arranged tours of the new areas – which pretty much took in most sections of the hospital – ending at our wonderful new office! The tours were very, very popular. We wanted to highlight our contribution to the hospital and also to use the event as a recruitment tool. Each convenor prepared a display that showcased what their volunteers do. The displays were divided into two groups – Patient Care and Fundraising, and there were plenty of photos demonstrating our volunteers’ efforts. We also offered refreshments with tea, coffee or punch as well as home-baked goodies. As a parting gift, we gave each person a bookmark that we had made, highlighting sayings about volunteering and giving our contact information.
There was a very good turnout and a great deal of interest in Volunteer Services and the work our members do. We received fifteen new volunteer applications, ten of which came to fruition. It was a very successful event from the perspective that it gave the community information about our organization and we found some new volunteers.
Submitted by Susan Snider |
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FLOWERS OF UXBRIDGE HERITAGE QUILT |
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COTTAGE HOSPITAL AUXILIARY, UXBRIDGE ONTARIO embarked on a project that involved the whole community and brought more awareness of our Auxiliary to the town.
The quilt squares were lovingly appliquéd by members of our auxiliary and these squares were taken to several events in our town during the year. People were asked to sign a square for $5.00, $25. for a family, which hundreds of residents and our members were delighted to do. Then one member of the community volunteered to stitch these squares together to make the quilt, and our Uxbridge Senior Quilters lovingly hand stitched the quilt to make the finished product.
On presentation day, the hospital foyer was filled with residents, auxiliary members, our Mayor and Town Council as the quilt was dedicated to all of our volunteers, past present and future. The hospital staff hosted us with a lovely tea afterwards to thank the Auxiliary.
The quilt now hangs in the hospital lobby for all to see and appreciate and it is truly a beautiful work of art. Please go to the Photo Gallary for a peek.
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Hospital Loss – Retirement Gain |
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On Feb 10th, 2012, Shelley Brick, Administrative Coordinator and Valerie (Val) Marcella, Program Director, retired from The Saugeen Memorial Hospital in Southampton, Town of Saugeen Shores for a well deserved retirement.
Debbie Legault, Co-President of the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Auxiliary presented Shelley & Val with gift baskets from the Auxiliary.
They will be sorely missed for all the tremendous help Shelley & Val have given the Auxiliary over the years making the hospital such a great community asset.
L - R: Shelley Brick, Debbie Legault & Valerie (Val) Marcella |
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West Lincoln Celebrates Breakfast with Santa |
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Our fourth annual ‘Breakfast With Santa’, held on December 10th, was a fantastic, fun-filled morning at Peach King Arena, Grimsby. Record numbers came out to enjoy pancakes and sausage and visit with Santa and be entertained by Steve Swan—thank you to both of you for adding so much to the morning. Children were able to do their Christmas shopping for family members in the ‘kids only’ Santa’s Clauset and take their treasures home giftwrapped (thanks to our student volunteers!). Once again, Sobeys Grimsby manager, James, was helping out along with family, and staff members Erica and Sue — many thanks for your generous donations of food for the breakfast. Thanks, also, to E. D. Smith, Winona, for maple syrup, Giant Tiger, Grimsby for candy canes, Carol Grimm for her donation of sixty Webkinz for the children to purchase, and to Bill Dixon for donation of toys for the Toonie Sale. Thank you for all the treasures donated to the Santa’s Clauset, and please don’t forget to start saving for next year! Again, many, many volunteers make this and all of our fundraising events successful — THANK YOU! Funds raised at the breakfast — about $1,700 — go toward our purchase of a new ultrasound machine for our hospital. — Marie McNiven Go to the Photo Gallery for West Lincoln to view photos of "Breakfast with Santa". |
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Kemptville Auxiliary Make A Large Contribution! |
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The Kemptville District Hospital Auxiliary is very proud of the progress they are making with the Mammography Fund. The overall cost is $750,000, of which the Auxiliary pledged to raise $100,000 over four years. After 2 years they have raised over $63,000: some from donations and pledges from members, and a lot from their walker team that has participated in the 60-km 2-day walk organized by the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation for the past two years. (75% of what our team raised came back to our hospital for the Mammography Fund.) In December (KDHA) President Bev Carson delivered a cheque for $8,000 to Kemptville District Hospital CEO Colin Goodfellow, in December. Also Judy Poole Owner-Manager of Curves, presented Jane Wolf of the Kemptville District Hospital Auxilairy (KDHA) a cheque for $275 for the Mammography Fund campaign raised through a revolving rummage sale. (see photos) |
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Another Success for Headwaters Health, Orangeville
See photos the Photo Section. Our High School Students came through for us again this year! They helped out in various areas at our Candy Cane Fair: e.g. Santa’s Workshop wrapping gifts for the Little Ones; Face Painting; Photos with Santa; Twoonie Draw Table and just doing whatever they could or were asked to do to help make our Candy Cane Fair another successful Auxiliary Event. Hospital staff also supported the fair in numerous ways such as donating items for the kids dollar store,
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2011 Student Volunteers honoured by HAAO – see the Winter issue of the Volunteer. |
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Headwaters Healthcare Auxiliary |
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Thank you to everyone involved in selling the Quilt Raffle tickets and to our community at large for their support. Proceeds of this raffle made it possible to present $4,000.00 to the Headwaters Health Care Centre.
L to R Carolyne Beaton, Edna Melanson, Ron Hay, Joan Waechter (Foundation Chair) Liz Ruegg (Hospital Interim CEO/President) and Joan Burdette, Foundation Executive Director
Congratulations to “Our 90 Year-Old Club” What A Great Achievement!
L to R: Grace Holmes (90 in January), Viola Irving (90 in March), Marg Milson (91 in December), Ruth Bowland (97 in January). Missing from the Photo is Deb Reed who will be turning 91 in February |
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Headwaters Health Care Centre Auxiliary – Orangeville |
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The creation of the Friendship Gardens was the idea of a group of volunteers called Friends of Headwaters and initiated in 1997. Having raised money to buy equipment and a critical care unit for the hospital, the group looked at the beautiful new facility and saw the barren scenes outside. The gardens were an instant success with patients, staff and visitors. They make Headwaters Health Care Centre a special place to receive care. All the photos are on the following website - www.friendshipgardens.ca
The Friendship Gardens Photo Album contains a record of the building of the gardens from inception to the present day. Feel free to browse the album to see the results achieved by all the volunteers.
1) The Friendship Gardens now consist of nine gardens, all built and/or maintained by a group of volunteers from the community. The Cafe and Kids gardens were built separately, but we now maintain them as well. The hospital has not had the money to build or maintain gardens, so the volunteers continue to and have also taken over the care of the over 350 trees on the property. We have raised well in access of $150,000 to build these gardens and many generous donations from contractors, Scotiabank and TD Bank have helped us achieve this.
2) The Kids' Garden was originally built with generous donations from McDonalds. There was a lovely gazebo, which is still there today and some healthy Blue Spruce and shrubs, but it was fenced and locked, so it wasn't used. We restored this garden with the help of McDonald's. We had 'Bruce McMoose' built for us, with wonderful paintings of teddy bears in bandages, installed wonderful colourful bulbs and flowers so that it would be colourful and vibrant from April to November. We purchased cedar bird feeders from a local man and the terrific bear was made and donated by Jim Mencken, also of Orangeville
3) The Healing Wheel of Trees - This amazing Ecco garden was built by the community, for the hospital patients, staff, visitors and also for the community. The beautiful dry stone wall was built with 100 tons of limestone, under the direction and instruction of John Shaw-Rimmington, the President of the Canadian Drystone Wall Society.
4) Thyme Walkway Planting - One hundred seventy thyme plants were planted in the circular walkway that welcomes visitors to walk through and sit on one of the beautiful limestone benches. This Healing Wheel garden is a natural garden which is built with Ecco grass, trees, spring bulbs and selected regional trees. The wheel is known by many cultures as a protective and healing place to be. |
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