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Record fundraising at Festival of Trees will fund two blood analyzers

Pictured at the Second Time Around Store, from left, are: auxiliary volunteers Jack Starkey, Carol Harvey and Judy Anderson with Cathy Starkey, auxiliary past-president; Ann Galvin, PECMH Foundation board director; Peggy Payne, PECMH Foundation Chairperson and auxiliary volunteer; Nancy Kish, auxiliary volunteer; Shannon Coull, PECMH Foundation Executive Director; Sandy Bowser and Pat Evans, auxiliary volunteers; Pam Strachan, manager of the Second Time Around Shop; Sheila Morden, auxiliary volunteer and Lina Rinaldi, vice-president and chief nursing executive at Quinte Health. – Briar Boyce photo

Supporters of the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary’s annual Festival of Trees and Second Time Around Store Christmas boutique raised a record $80,000 which will be used to purchase urgently needed equipment for the County’s hospital.

Tuesday morning, the auxiliary (PECMHA) presented the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) with proceeds raised at the 31st annual event.

“We are all so grateful to this generous community for supporting us with their time, entries, donations, attendance and bids, especially as so many are facing financial hardship this year,” said Liz Jones, volunteer manager of the Festival of Trees. “We exceeded our financial goal and are happy to report that the funds raised will be used to buy priority medical equipment for our local hospital.”

The auxiliary goal’s of $51,000 will be earmarked for the foundation to purchase two blood analyzers needed in the emergency department. The remainder of the funds will be used to purchase other equipment prioritized as an urgent need for the County’s hospital.

Blood analyzers are designed to quickly and reliably provide accurate results from a small whole blood sample, to address various conditions including renal tests, liver function tests, and basic metabolic tests such as glucose, calcium, sodium, and potassium. They can also help in critical situations where hemoglobin is needed on a bleeding patient to decide on a transfusion.

“Having these analyzers allows Quinte Health’s staff timely access to equipment, particularly when a patient requires a blood test right away,” said Lina Rinaldi, Vice-President and Chief Nursing Executive at Quinte Health. “These analyzers allow physicians and staff to accurately achieve real-time, lab-quality diagnostic results within minutes rather than hours.”

The auxiliary is grateful to the 100+ volunteers who spent countless hours planning and executing the free-of-charge event; its signature fundraising project of the year.

“The Festival of Trees committee, along with the PECMHA board and volunteers, extend a heartfelt thank you to Isaiah Tubbs for donating the event space, and to the people who donated and bid on the spectacular auction items and purchased baked goods and those who donated their musical talents or bought items from the Second Time Around Shop Christmas boutique,” said Jones. “Again, this year, our community showed up and was very generous in donating, bidding and buying.”

Jones noted there were more than 230 fabulous items for visitors to place bids, and again this year, the committee initiated a bake sale and everything was sold by noon on Saturday.

Planning for the annual festival, the Second Time Around Shop volunteers collect the best-donated items throughout the year to sell in the Christmas boutique at the shop on Main Street in Picton.

“The auxiliary is indebted to many people who have worked enthusiastically and tirelessly to make the Festival of Trees an extraordinary event: our sponsors and donors, the festival committee, our volunteers and friends who worked many hours, all those who baked, and those who visited the Second Time Around Shop boutique,” said Susan Quaiff, president of the PECMH Auxiliary.

Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation, said that through these contributions, the auxiliary is positively impacting the well-being of patients.

“Our patients are fortunate to have such a committed team of volunteers fundraising on their behalf. On average, the staff at PECMH manage over 46,000 patient visits annually. Thanks to our donors, including the PECMH Auxiliary, our dedicated team of care champions continue to have access to the equipment and tools they need to provide you and your loved ones with the care you deserve close to home. Community support is important because the government does not pay for medical equipment.”

 

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  1. Liz Jones says:

    The Festival of Trees as with all Auxiliary initiatives is 100% volunteer run.
    The Auxiliary spends raised funds on medical equipment for Picton’s Hospital, post secondary scholarships for careers in healthcare and for health care initiatives in the County. If you would like to help by volunteering with the Auxiliary please visit http://www.pecmhaux.ca

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