Powell River Health-Care Auxiliary will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2020, and to commemorate that important milestone, the organization is sharing its story with the community.
“We started as a hospital auxiliary back in 1945, like many other health-care auxiliaries in British Columbia,” said president Gerry Wray. “The first capital purchase we made for the Powell River hospital was a cigarette machine; times have really changed.”
The health-care auxiliary donates proceeds from sales at its economy shop, hospital gift shop, and annual winter bazaar to support health care initiatives in the Powell River area, including the hospital, Willingdon Creek Village long-term care, Powell River Therapeutic Riding Association, and others.
“I’ve been around this organization for nine years now, and I noticed right away that no one involved brags about the work we do to support health care in this community,” said Ian Burke, chair of the auxiliary’s anniversary committee. “Since we’re celebrating our 75th anniversary this year, we thought it was time to talk a bit louder about the good things we do.”
The auxiliary receives input from health-care organizations about what their needs are, and the members vote on where the money raised goes.
“For example, we used to buy the therapeutic riding association a new horse every year,” said Burke. “Now, we just give them $10,000; they know best where the money is needed.”
The bulk of the annual donations go to Vancouver Coastal Health to assist with capital purchases at Powell River General Hospital.
“The hospital gives us a wishlist twice a year; the needs are categorized as critical, high or medium priority, and they tell us how much each item will cost,” said Wray. “Our members vote on what items we will support and how many funds we’ll provide. In 2018, for example, we provided Vancouver Coastal Health with $250,0000 for Omnicell units and medical carts.”
In addition to capital purchases for the hospital and care centres, and support for health-care related organizations, the auxiliary also provides up to 10 scholarships per year for its youth volunteer program members.
“If a youth member is going into a health-care-related field, like pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, or medicine, they can be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship,” said Burke. “It’s just another way we can give money away, and that is just so much fun for us.”
The auxiliary currently has a volunteer base of about 250 people of all ages, although more volunteers are always welcome. Volunteers staff the various shops and events that raise the funds for the auxiliary.
“We have great volunteers, and the people of Powell River are so generous in the way they support this organization,” said Wray. “I’m in charge of sorting books at the shop, and some weeks when I come in, the other volunteers can’t see me for all the books on the table.”
The auxiliary is currently planning an anniversary event to coincide with their annual volunteer appreciation day on May 9. For more information on the auxiliary, go to prhealthcareaux.ca/.
