If you serve up strawberries and ice cream they will come. If it's for a good cause you will pack the joint.
The Innisfail and District Health Centre Auxiliary held its annual Strawberry Tea fundraiser on May 9 from 1:45 to 4 p.m. at the Innisfail Library Learning Centre and attracted close to 150 people, all of whom enjoyed the dessert and fellowship.
Mayor Brian Spiller cut the ceremonial ribbon to declare the tea open and auxiliary members served the surging and cheerful crowd strawberries, ice cream, and tea or coffee.
“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Dorothy Page, an auxiliary volunteer. “We operate the Innisfail Hospital Gift Shop as well, and all of our profits go to support the health centre in one way or another.”
Page said the group raises money for the care and comfort of hospital patients, often taking care of some of the facility's wish list.
“Over the years we have purchased a NIBP monitor, blanket warmers, mattresses, hydrocollator heating units, a Broda chair, a Holter monitor and overhead lifts,” said Win Waters, another auxiliary volunteer. “We also help fund palliative care educational materials, patient care kits, supplies for hair care volunteers, and the Rosefield Garden.”
Waters added they look after patient comfort while the hospital takes care of the facility.
Sean Slaney, health centre care manager, noted the group's latest donation, two ceiling lift units, were recently installed.
“The units cost $15,000 and they allow patients to be safely transported from their wheelchairs to their bed,” said Slaney. “These ladies are incredible and without them we would not be able to afford some of the items they donate. What the auxiliary does on a volunteer basis we could not pay someone to do.”
Spiller agreed, adding the ladies are “amazing” for what they do and accomplish.
“They are able to raise $20- to $30,000 every year on a volunteer basis for the hospital,” said the mayor. “I can't imagine what the facility would be like without them.”
As of press time, the amount of funds raised at the tea was still being calculated.
The auxiliary also raises money by selling raffle tickets, hosting a beef-on-a-bun dinner, and managing a donation program on behalf of past members. For more information contact the gift shop at 403-227-7800.
