Hospital auxiliary celebrates 90th year honouring its volunteers

At left, Auxiliary President Susan Quaiff congratulates Sue Law on 25 years as a volunteer with the auxiliary. At right, Dorothy Speirs thanks Dominique Jones for speaking about volunteers at the auxiliary’s appreciation event.

Celebrating its 90th year, the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary honoured the impressive dedication of its many volunteers during an appreciation event Sunday at the Wellington on the Lake Community Centre.

More than 85 volunteers and invited guests were in attendance for the lunch and refreshments.

Mayor Steve Ferguson presents a certificate of recognition to the PECMH Auxiliary, via its president, Susan Quaiff.

Greetings were brought by Peggy Payne, chairperson of the hospital foundation board, and Shannon Coull, executive director of the hospital foundation, as well as Lina Rinaldi, vice-president and Chief Nursing Office at Quinte Health.

Mayor Steve Ferguson presented the auxiliary with a certificate of recognition, and thanks, via Susan Quaiff, auxiliary president.

Guest speaker Dominique Jones, executive director of The County Foundation, addressed volunteerism in general and how it relates to this community. Dorothy Speirs, of the Perfectly Preserved group, presented a thank you gift to Jones of selected goodies that will be available this weekend to those who attend the Thanksgiving sale Saturday, Oct. 12 beginning at 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rotary Hall, Picton Fairgrounds.

Quaiff presented 74 volunteers with auxiliary pins recognizing years of service and hours of service.

A special presentation was held for Sue Law who has been with the auxiliary for 25 years and who was instrumental in starting up the Second Time Around Shop on Main Street Picton.

20-year awards were presented to Fran Donaldson, Laverne Mcconnell, Eleanor O’Neil, Gail Richardson and Linda Wadforth.

15-year awards were earned by Dorothy Bongard, Janet Bryant, Robin Marshall, Peggy Payne, Raylene Starling and Pamela Strachan.

10-year awards were earned by Lynda DeMille, Jane Corey, Lynda Jenkins, Sharon McKenzie, Janet Skelton and Catherine Starkey.

5-year awards were earned by Monica Alyea, Charlie Bontje, Briar Boyce, Conaboy Brown, Laura Bryan, Michelene Budai, Pat Gray, Nancy Hagberg, John Hardon, Kim Harrington, Rose Anne Helferty, Colleen Hill, David Hill, Pam Huckle, Jennie Kenny, Nancy Kish, Lise Klemme, Beth Law, Janet Murphy, Annabell Murray, Donna Ostrander, Lynda Prior, Marthe Robertson, Al Rowatt, Ellen Sparling, Wilma Speirs, Jack Starkey, Beverly Stewart, Daphne Turner, John Turner, Kathy Watt, Jane Winwood, Patti Wolfe and Rita Wybenga.

There were several people honoured or extensive hours of service, including Rebecca MacKellar, at 17,000 hours; Pamela Strachan at 14,000, Susan Everall at 8,000; Beverley Thompson at 6,000, Dorothy Bongard at 5,000, Rosemary Moore and Linda Wadforth at 4,000 and Lynda Demille at 3,000 hours.

Honoured for 2,000 hours of service were Margaret Keizer, Lise Laberge, Deborah Paskus, Diane Splaine and Eugenia Venchiarutti. Honoured for 1,000 hours of service were Charlie Bontje, Laura Bryan, Michelene Budai, Vera Hartogsveld, Leslie Graham, Patricia Wallwork, Jane Winwood, Patti Wolfe and Rita Wybenga.

The first PECMH Women’s Auxiliary meeting was held in 1934, resulting from an amalgamation of several County Women’s Institutes which had supported the hospital from its beginning in 1918.

Today the Auxiliary is open to both men and women and numbers about 400 volunteers when including all participants in fundraising, community services (including blood donor clinics, gardens, meals on wheels, scholarships), the Perfectly Preserved Group that makes jams and preserves for fundraisers; the Festival of Trees event crew,  and the many volunteers at the Second Time Around Shop of Main St., Picton.

The auxiliary has become a multi-million dollar jewel in the hospital’s fundraising crown, supporting the hospital foundation-led campaigns.

Its signature fundraising event, the Prince Edward County Festival of Trees, returns to Isaiah Tubbs Nov. 29-Dec. 1 this year. Proceeds will help the auxiliary purchase two portable point-of-care blood analyzers for the hospital.

Businesses, groups, organizations and citizens are invited to decorate a free pre-lit tree or wreath, donate crafts, art or other treasures. Contact Sharon at ssmorcom@gmail.com, or call 613-848-4720 for details.

For more on the auxiliary, its efforts, and how you can become a volunteer visit its website at https://www.pecmhaux.ca/