Members of the Lake-Bay-Hill Auxilliary to the Cowichan District Hospital, dropping in last week to check out what their recent $4,000-plus donation had actually purchased for the hospital, were delighted.
"Did we buy all of that?" asked Karin Boudreau, vice-president of the auxilliary, staring up at a huge supply cart for the emergency room.
Its full title includes the words "triple module" but that really doesn't describe its size and versatility.
Both Boudreau and the group's past president, Nadene Hill, were impressed with the obvious versatility of the piece of equipment. Emergency room RN Karen Hill said the big cart, with its see-through wire shelving was particularly useful because contents are instantly visible and the shelves can aligned as needed and even sloped forward.
Formed in 1972, the auxillary originally included members from Cobble Hill, Mill Bay and Shawnigan Lake, which accounts for its name.
The group's aim is to raise funds to support the care and comfort of patients and residents of CDH and Cairnsmore Place.
The money is raised annually during four major events: a Strawberry Tea at the Cobble Hill annual flower show and a Lemon and Lavender Tea, also in the spring, plus a fall raffle and a fall craft and gift fair.
Since the LBH Auxiliary formed, it has raised over a $100,000 for equipment and care items for CDH and Cairnsmore Place.
In addition, the group has annually awarded a bursary to a student attending Frances Kelsey Secondary School who is choosing a career in the health services field.
This year their funds went to purchase the Triple Par Stor III triple module mobile unit with its dust cover for the Emergency Room at a cost of $4,072.
As well, the auxiliary has in the past given funds to the window refurbishing project at Cairnsmore Place, and contributed toward the cost of equipment purchased by the CDH Foundation. The LBH Auxiliary is 23 members strong, and they contribute 3,000 to 3,500 hours of volunteer work annually as well as holding all their fundraising efforts.
"Some of us volunteer at blood services, some of us volunteer at the gift shop, some of us volunteer at H.A.T.S., and some of us volunteer at Cairnsmore," Boudreau said. "What's amazing is that some of our members are very elderly; the majority are over 80. We tend to go to Cairnsmore a lot."
Nadene Hill agreed, and added, "Also, when it comes to fundraising a lot of the things they might need are smaller. We can afford to get them. If something is going to be $20,000 that's where the gift shop and other places are involved."
The group meets on the second Tuesday of the month from September to June at the Mill Bay Community Hall. New members are always welcome so call the president, Evelyn Roberts at 250-743-9397 or Boudreau at 250-743-0899 to learn more.