Since the turn of the century concerned citizens, at first women only, organized groups to assist in earning funds to help get hospitals started and to fund supplies. These groups were the first hospital auxiliaries. In recent years men have joined with women to provide funds for the purchase of necessary equipment and to give care and comfort to the patients and residents of our Health Site.
In Ashcroft, our Auxiliary began in 1913 but was forced to discontinue due to World War I. In 1920 it was revived and continues to this day.
Over the years with the changes in our health care system, the auxiliary has been forced to change its focus somewhat. We continue to purchase equipment for the Health Site but have also expanded into more community health events, such as hosting symposiums on special health care concerns.
The members of Health Care Auxiliary volunteered more then 13,000 hours in the past year to raise funds that supports the health care of the of the residents of Ashcroft, Cache Creek and surrounding area.
The Auxiliary holds a special account known as The Memorial Fund. Donations made to this fund by members of the community is used to enhance the beauty of the outside living space for the residents of Long Term Care and more recently this fund was used to install the trees and benches at the front of the Health Site for the comfort of visitors to the Site.
More than $4,000 was donated in 2011 for the purchase of equipment as well as comfort and patient care at our Health Site.
In recognition that Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops has become the referral hospital for those patients that need specialized treatment, the Auxiliary has contributed $10,000 towards the purchase of a new CT scanner as well as $10,000 towards the new ICU Unit.
In 2009 the Auxiliary established two $1,000 bursaries for a Nursing student attending Thompson Rivers University on completion of his/her second year with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a high school graduate of School District 74, and that demonstrates financial need. This past year we have expanded our bursary program to include a bursary of $1,000 on the completion of the Practical Nurse Exam, as well as a student on the completion of the Respiratory Therapy Program, and a $500 bursary to the student that passes the certificate of Health Care Assistant.
The Ashcroft and District Health Care Auxiliary gives a big THANK YOU to all members of our community that support us in their donations to our Thrift Shop and all of our fund raising events.
Irene Trueman