By Cecilia Nasmith/ Northumberland 89.7 FM/Today’s Northumberland
With uncertain times ahead, it seems Northumberland Hills Hospital is blessed with an auxiliary and a foundation that always come through.
Details were shared at the February board of directors meeting, starting with auxiliary president Selena Forsyth’s declaration of “good news all over the volunteer front.”
Forsyth was referring to the dedicated work of interim manager of volunteers Graeme Bakker, whose proactive recruiting is filling vacancies in the emergency department and at the enquiry desk, and “making critical steps toward finding more weekend and evening coverage,” she said.
“Currently, Graeme continues to educate current volunteers about other departments to build their skill sets, which often results on them taking on extra shifts in other areas.”
At their Petticoat Lane thrift store, Saturday shifts are beginning over the next few weeks, with a noon-to-3 p.m. opening that is accommodating happy Saturday shoppers and busy families. They will work to try to make this a permanent change.
In January, Petticoat Lane grossed $17,027, which worked out to a net $10,634 after paying rent and other bills.
Their other retail operation, the Little Treasure Shoppe located in the hospital lobby, grossed $10,819 in January – which worked out to a net amount of $3,109.
Their $225,000 pledge for new privacy curtains for the hospital is on its way to being retired, with a $110,000 cheque in November and a current balance of $117,000 in the bank.
Foundation Chair Gavin Ivory shared his group’s most recent success story, the $336,000 results from their Light Up A Life campaign, which will secure updated blood-testing equipment for the hospital.
“Results from this effort are up almost 25% in the last three years,” Ivory said, adding that this initiative has raised almost $4-million since it was introduced in 1994.
And one of their newer fundraisers is doing well, with their Chase The Ace jackpot now surpassing $11,000.
With a March-to-March fiscal year, they are closing in on their 2024-2025 goal of raising $2.9-million, with $2.8-million to date, Ivory reported.
And their fundraising from all sources has surpassed its $4.5-million goal, coming in at $4.9-million to date, due in part to their very successful legacy gifts initiative.
