From gift shops to providing patient comforts, from raising money operating thrift stores to donating towards essential hospital equipment, healthcare auxiliaries are hard at work across Island Health. They are the strong cadre of very active Auxiliary members who volunteer tirelessly to support their hospitals and health care facilities all across the province.
The government of British Columbia has proclaimed May 7th as Auxiliary Day to recognize the dedicated Auxiliary members who volunteer thousands of hours and raise millions of dollars each year for their health care facilities and their communities.
“This day gives me an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the significant contribution Island Health auxiliaries make towards the care and comfort of our patients, residents, clients, families and care teams,” said Leah Hollins, Chair of the Island Health Board of Directors. “I sincerely thank our auxiliary volunteers for their steadfastness and commitment to our health care system, despite the impact the pandemic has had on many organizations.”
Island Health auxiliaries have made significant contributions to equipment and program needs this year, despite the challenges of operating during a pandemic. For example, the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Auxiliary has helped to fund vital perinatal and bariatric equipment at the hospital, and three Cowichan Valley auxiliaries each contributed $25,000 towards the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation’s campaign to purchase new hospital mammography equipment.
“Volunteers in Healthcare Auxiliaries continue to support Healthcare on Vancouver Island while following the Covid guidelines,” said Marge Anderson, Vancouver Island Area Director for the BC Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries. “Our hope is to return to normal operations as soon as possible and in the meantime, we continue to follow our hearts by ‘Helping Healthcare the Auxiliary Way.”
Island Health recognizes long service milestones for both staff and volunteers, and this year celebrated three auxiliary members reaching 55 years of service in 2021. Island Health extends a warm and sincere thank you to all Auxiliary members who volunteer and give their time to support patients in our facilities.
For more information about Island Health healthcare auxiliaries, see islandhealth.ca/about-us/accountability/organization/auxiliaries-associations.