The auxiliary of the Cowichan District Hospital is an organization 100 per cent staffed by volunteers who support health care in the valley in many ways: staffing the thrift store, hospital gift shop, the tuck shop at Cairnsmore Place, knitting items, 'needling', and visiting residents.
This year the auxiliary will donate almost $100,000 to support items requested by the hospital.
The auxiliary recently purchased the building at 138 Craig St. where it operates their Thrift Store. Every day there are volunteers receiving donated items, then checking, sorting, cleaning, and pricing them. Once they’re ready for sale, the sales staff takes over to help you find what you want and to ring up your sales.
In addition to working from home knitting, crocheting and sewing, the needlers meet twice a month to work together and to deliver the items they’ve completed. Many of the items they create are made from donated yarn and fabric. These volunteers knit newborn infant toques for the maternity ward, bed jackets and lap blankets for the residents of Cairnsmore Place, in addition to sweaters, toys, and knick-knacks for sale in the gift shop at the Cowichan District Hospital.
At the hospital, more volunteers staff the gift shop where snacks and small gift items are sold, in addition to the many items created by the needlers. The shop serves the hospital staff, patients and visitors. Over the course of the year, the gift shop also hosts special events, including an ice cream social for the staff.
Finally, there are auxiliary members volunteering regularly at Cairnsmore Place. The volunteers spend time visiting with the residents, hosting special social events and running the tuck shop which has snacks for purchase.
Monies raised go to a lot of different health and hospital related items.
Have you noticed that there is free WiFi for patients and visitors at the Cowichan District Hospital? That’s thanks to the auxiliary in partnership with the Cowichan Hospital Foundation. In addition to baby toques, they donate pediatric care toys and layettes to the children’s and maternity wards. They pay for the surgical sponges patients use. They offer scholarships to local high school students who are taking post-secondary courses in health care. They donate money to Cowichan Hospice House. They support the work of the hospital.
It takes a lot of people to keep these programs running smoothly and efficiently. There are never enough volunteers to accomplish all of the goals. Volunteers are always needed at the gift shop, thrift shop, and Cairnsmore Place.
For more information call 250-597-1428, email at H.A.T.S@shaw.ca, or visit www.cowichanhospitalauxiliary.com.
