The province has proclaimed May 9 as BC Healthcare Auxiliaries Day.
This year coincides with the 75th anniversary of the formation of the BC Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries, although the Sunshine Coast Healthcare Auxiliary preceded that by eight years when St. Mary’s Hospital was still located at Garden Bay.
Every year, the Sunshine Coast Auxiliary celebrates the day with various events in the communities it serves. So this year was going to be extra special. But COVID-19 happened instead, so no events are planned.
But the Sunshine Coast Healthcare Auxiliary is finding ways to continue to fulfill its mission in support of improved health care for those on the Coast. In response to the fight against the pandemic, the auxiliary donated $100,000 to the Sechelt Hospital Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund and $5,000 to Sunshine Coast food banks. And they continue to donate funds to the hospital for medical equipment as needed.
The Auxiliary also initiated a project, together with the Sunshine Coast Quilters Guild, to sew personal protection items for health and other essential workers. After three weeks of intense activity, producing masks, scrub bags and scrub hats, they delivered!
On April 23, Jane Macdonald of the Sechelt Hospital Foundation received delivery of 529 items for distribution to Sechelt/shíshálh Hospital. They also delivered 349 items to Laurie Chiasson, recreational program coordinator, for use at Shorncliffe, Totem Lodge and the hospital’s Second Floor South care facilities.
In these ways and others, the Healthcare Auxiliary continues working together to improve health care on the Sunshine Coast.
– Jacqui Jones-Cox, Sunshine Coast Healthcare Auxiliary
