The Heart Of Fundraising

The Royal Canadian Legion, Ellerslie will be hopping on Saturday, February 9^th as the Stewart Memorial Hospital Auxiliary roll out their 26^th Annual Valentine’s Dance. In addition to great dance music from the band Old Habits, there will also be a 50/50 draw and lots of door prizes donated by local businesses.

“It’s a fun event that people return to year after year,” said Auxiliary President Pam MacKinnon.  “There is great love for our hospital and everyone does their part to make sure it receives full support.”

The Auxiliary is now in their 63^rd year of fundraising for the hospital.  When Stewart Memorial first opened in 1951, Auxiliary members worked with local Women’s Institutes to ensure the hospital was ready to accept patients.  The Auxiliary helped furnish the hospital with medical equipment such as an x-ray machine and a baby incubator, but also supplied very basic items such as canned food, curtains and hospital gowns.

More recently the group has been upgrading the activities department equipment.  “We’ve been able to expand the number of therapeutic and fun activities offered to the residents and patients.  Our main goal is to purchase items for the care and comfort of those in the hospital,” said MacKinnon.

Auxiliary members are also selling raffle tickets, with the following prizes: two nights accommodation, breakfast and dinners, donated by the Rodd Mill River Resort; a hand-hooked mat, made and donated by Olive Grigg; two Adirondack lawn chairs, built and donated by Evan Locke; and a CBC jacket and hat.  Raffle tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5, and the winners will be drawn on the night of the dance.

Valentine’s Dance tickets are $12 each and can be reserved by calling Wanda at 831-2684 or Cindy at 831-2662. 

Stewart Memorial Hospital Auxiliary life member Marilyn Ramsay (left) and

Auxiliary President Pam MacKinnon (right) with a couple of the door prizes that will be awarded at the Auxiliary's 2013 Valentine's Dance on February 9.