Every year volunteers for the Nanaimo Auxiliary to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital give thousands of hours for the benefit of charity.
Operating the gift shop in the hospital lobby and a thrift store at Northridge Centre, the group of more than 240 volunteers raises funds for specific equipment at NRGH.
But it also provided a helping hand at the information desk, in several departments, and delivering comfort items such as books and magazines.
All that hard work has once again paid off. At its recent AGM, the auxiliary presented $245,000 to the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation.
For 113 years the auxiliary has created ways to provide necessary supplies, equipment, and services to patients and medical professionals.
In the very early days, that may have meant providing food or sewing linens for patients.
More than 20 years ago the auxiliary began directing its donation to the hospital foundation in an effort to concentrate funding toward essential projects.
Since then, it has given $2.65 million to the foundation, reaching every area of NRGH and helping thousands of patients.
This year the group’s $250,000 donation helps purchase fetal monitors, sinoscopy sets, a portable ultrasound, and cardiac monitors.
This will equip NRGH with equipment otherwise unavailable and increasing the services to patients.
“On behalf of patients visiting NRGH and utilizing the equipment made possible by the Nanaimo Auxiliary I would like to say thank you,” said Laurie Crossan, hospital foundation board director. “We count the Nanaimo Auxiliary to NRGH amongst our greatest champions and closest friends. Their remarkable support each year makes a meaningful impact on the health of Vancouver Islanders. They literally help save lives.”
To learn more about the auxiliary, please visit www.nrgh auxiliary.ca.