Staff
It’s taken the better part of three years and countless volunteer hours spent knitting, crocheting, baking and various other tasks, but the members of the Rimbey Hospital Auxiliary finally saw their hard work pay off last week in the form of a $10,000 donation to a number of projects at the new hospital.
“We get a wish list every year and we were able to give them everything they asked for in their wish list,” said member Robbie Tarleton who spoke on behalf of the group. “There is a thermometer for labour and delivery, there is a suction for extended care, a bed alarm for extended care and anything that’s left over is for patio furniture for the new area.”
The ladies said they raised the funds through teas, bake sales, raffles, the annual Christmas Bazaar, the operation of the tuk shop at the hospital, making and selling baby blankets and a host of other efforts.
In all, they estimate that the fundraising took between two and three years and involved approximately 20 volunteers hours each week for the members that number around 20. They also wanted to wait until the major construction phase of the new hospital was completed before making the huge donation.
“Something else we do is for extended care, we have a deal with the flower shop that on their birthdays we go and pick up a corsage and bring it over at night and in the morning they put in on them and everyone knows it’s their birthday,” Tarleton added. “They really like that.”
“I make sure that in the long-term care ward they always have flowers on the dining room tables. They’re not real – they’re silk,” added member Mary Burrows.
As for the big picture, Site Leader Judy Drebert said thing are going well thanks in large part to efforts such as those put forth by the auxiliary.
“The fundraising for the Hospital Replacement Project is going very well. Above and beyond that are gifts like we have today that are for patient comforts and for the wish list,” Drebert said. “The wish list is another piece that we are continually being supported by the community. I think the other thing that is really significant that the Ladies Auxiliary do is the Strawberry Tea every spring and that’s coming up soon on May 5.”
This year the Tea will be held at the Rimbey Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Usually, the Tea is held at the hospital however construction forced the move.
As for other items on the wish list, Drebert said there’s plenty more needed both large and small.
“There is a myriad of things on the wish list all the way from patient equipment to little things that help us do our job better,” she said. “Things like cafeteria supplies, coffee urns, booties to make feet more comfortable when people are lying in bed for long periods, pads for wheelchairs – all those things that bring comfort to residents.”
Larger items still needed include things for palliative care, bariatric equipment and a bladder scanner, to name a few.
“The efforts on many come together and make a very significant donation and this is very significant to us,” Drebert said adding the fundraising effort goes well beyond the local community. “It’s Rimbey and area. People who use this hospital and see this as their place of care are contributing, so it’s many areas besides Rimbey that have contributed and we’re very grateful.”