PECM Hospital Auxiliary honours long-serving, dedicated volunteers

John Hardon received a Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Honourary Lifetime Membership from Pam Strachan, who then received the same honour, presented by past chairperson Cathy Starkey.

Applause and cheers rang out as the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary honoured its volunteers, Sunday, during a gathering at the Picton Golf and Country Club.

More than 70 auxiliary members attended the celebration of dedicated volunteers. There were some 50 awards handed out, recognizing both hours of service and years of volunteering with the auxiliary.

Peggy Payne brought greetings from the hospital foundation.

The PECMH Auxiliary consists of dedicated people who promote healthcare by providing, through fundraising, new equipment for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital. This year, the auxiliary passed another milestone – this one exceeding $3 million it has donated to the County’s hospital. All the money donated has historically been used to buy essential medical equipment. Thanks to the generosity of more than 500 supporters, the auxiliary matched donations and presented $300,000 to help purchase a new x-ray machine for the County’s hospital.

A celebration day highlight included two special presentations of honourary lifetime memberships made to honour significant contributions to the auxiliary by Pam Strachan for her many years of service, most recently for managing the Second Time Around Shop, and to John Hardon for unfailing dedication and assistance to the shop located downtown Picton.

The Second Time Around Shop is a major source of income for the auxiliary. The 6,800 square foot shop offers hundreds of new and gently used items in dozens of categories, including everything from clothing, small appliances and household items to some furniture, movies and books.

“We also acknowledged some amazing contributions including 13,000 hours of volunteering from Strachan at the shop, and an incredible 25 years of service by both Rebecca MacKellar and Beth McConnell,” noted Jeanie Perruzza, the auxiliary’s communications volunteer.

Four members – Sally Margueratt, Mary Murray, Carol Oliver and Liz Robson – were honoured for 20 years as volunteers.

Ten-year volunteers included Judy Anderson, Susan Everall, Patricia Fox, Pat Furniss, Maureen Robinson, Anita Scott and Michelle Walton.

Five-year volunteers were Sharon Bone, Lynda Dainard, Paula Gray, Vera Hartogsveld, Susan Hughes, Zoe Law, Kate Lawson, Cathy Lemkow, Lynda McGregor, Margaret Middleton, Susan Steele, Pat Thompson and Daphne Turner.

Members were also honoured for hours of service to the auxiliary – led by Pam Strachan with 13,000 hours.

At 7,000 hours: Jane Daubney, Susan Everall and Beth McConnell.

At 6,000 hours: Janet Bryant.

At 4,000 hours: Pauline Smith and Dorothy Speirs-Vincent.

At 3,000 hours: Rosemary Moore.

At 2,000 hours: Pat Evans, Lynda Jenkins, Liz Jones and Peggy Payne.

At 1,000 hours: Lynda Dainard, Ingrid Ellis, Paula Gray, Kim Harrington, Pam Huckle, Carol Hughes, Nancy Kish and Maureen Rudd.

The day is also well positioned as the volunteers continue to prepare for the auxiliary’s annual Festival of Trees three-day fundraising event Dec. 1-3 at Isaiah Tubbs resort in West Lake.

Dorothy Speirs-Vincent gave an overview of The Perfectly Preserved Group

The volunteers help with the silent auction of the many decorated trees and wreaths donated by businesses and individuals. They also are behind the scenes of live entertainment, the legendary ‘Perfectly Preserved’ baked and goods shop, the Christmas Boutique running at the same time at the Second Time Around Shop.

Year-round Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital volunteers also assist with the breast screening clinic, the coffee cart, dialysis and endoscopy clinics at the hospital in Picton.

Outside the hospital and the Second Time Around Shop, volunteers work with many community services including blood donor clinics, gardens, Meals on Wheels, the Remembrance Fund, scholarships and community funding.

The first meeting of the PECMH Women’s Auxiliary was held in Picton on Oct. 27, 1934, the result of an amalgamation of a number of County Women’s Institutes, which had supported the hospital from its beginning in 1918.

Today, the PECMH Auxiliary is open to both men and women and is significant support to the hospital at Picton, its patients, staff and the local community in meeting healthcare needs through service and fund raising.

Click here to join the auxiliary, or to find out more.