When it comes to fundraising, Groves Hospital Volunteer Association (GHVA), celebrated a milestone recently, announcing to volunteers at an appreciation luncheon last week the association has raised almost $3 million.
Groves Memorial Community Hospital board chair Paul Smith said volunteers have raised a total of $2,989,384 since 1933, when the organization was then known as Hospital Aid. The money has been used to purchase equipment for the hospital.
“The equipment has been purchased with your donations,” he told the gathering of volunteers at the Aboyne hall on Nov. 26.
“The volunteers are a critical part of the hospital. That (money raised) is an astounding accomplishment and you should be very proud of it.”
Dr. Dan Reilly, president of the hospital medical staff, also acknowledged the efforts by volunteers to raise money for equipment.
Some of the recent equipment purchases included two IV pumps used in the emergency department, a colonoscope for the operating-surgical suite department, urine microscope for the lab, and a pill counter for the pharmacy.
He said the equipment is appreciated by doctors and nurses at Groves.
“It makes our lives easier when we’re taking care of patients,” Reilly said.
Jayne MacKenzie, chairperson of the Groves Hospital Foundation, which heads up fundraising efforts, thanked the volunteers for their time and effort on behalf of the hospital.
“Groves Hospital Volunteer Association provides an incredible service to our community,” she said. “We appreciate all the work that the volunteers do to raise money for Groves and we recognize the invaluable contribution that volunteers make. All these gifts support best patient care and are appreciated.”
The event also included presentation of a $103,000 donation from the GHVA by past president Rob Gilbert to Sherri Sutherland, executive director of the Groves Hospital Foundation.
Since 2002, GHVA has donated over $1.9 million to the foundation.
Volunteer Marion Brown appreciated the accolades she and the other volunteers received at the luncheon. Brown was presented with a 25-year certificate acknowledging her long service as a volunteer and said later she has no intention of giving up the work.
For Brown, volunteering is a way of paying back the hospital where she was treated 16 years ago when she suffered from cancer, where her husband was treated when he suffered a heart attack and where her two children were born.
“What goes around, comes around,” she said of her philosophy to volunteering.
Carol Kirby, GHVA director of fundraising, said it’s not only fundraising that brings in money and saves the hospital some financial outlay.
She pointed out volunteers contributed some 31,500 hours of volunteer time in the past fiscal year. Kirby said the work saves the hospital considerable money, compared to paying someone a minimum wage of $10 an hour.
Revenue raised during the 2011-2012 fiscal year was $420,937. Much of the money comes from the two New to You shops operating in Fergus and Arthur. The Fergus store posted revenues (before expenses) of $324,567 for the previous year and the Arthur store showed revenues of almost $41,000 before expenses.
Kirby said the stores, which were once known as “The Opportunity Shop,” brought in slightly more than $300,000 in revenue combined.
The stores receive donations of household items, including clothing, kitchenware, televisions, CD players, books, crafts and linens on a daily basis.
At the Fergus store, which is closed Sunday and Monday, sorting of donated items starts early Tuesday, according to store manager Francine Gooderham and assistant manager Shirley Cooper. The store, which now overflows with goods, once served as an OPP station before being taken over by the GHVA in 2000.
Both Gooderham and Cooper started as volunteers before taking the management positions.
“That’s what gets you in here,” Cooper said of her previous volunteer work that captured her interest in working there full time.
According to both, the store couldn’t operate without the help of its more than 100 volunteers, with about 15 working various shifts on a daily basis. In all, the GHVA has about 250 volunteers.
“Our volunteers take pride in what they have,” Gooderham said.
Items not put out for sale at the store are donated to other community groups like Community Living and a Mennonite group which has outreach programs in Third World countries.
“Everything is recycled,” Gooderham added.
Items are sorted twice before being put out in the store, while other items are sorted and stored based on whether they are seasonal sellers for occasions such as Valentine’s Day or Christmas.
Sue Williams and Elena North collect and sort housewares. Williams has worked as a volunteer for six years. North has worked for four years and was recently named to the volunteer board.
The pair also assist in choosing items that are auctioned off at the store. The auction runs in almost two-week cycles, with items displayed at the front of the store for people to bid on. When the cycle ends those with the highest bids get the item they want.
“Unlike most auctions there’s no buyer’s premium, all the money goes to the hospital,” Williams said.
“I retired early and I didn’t want to stay at home,” she added of her decision to become a volunteer.
For North, volunteering with the association was a way to help the hospital that is a mainstay in the community and for the patients it serves.
“It’s helping the hospital and it keeps money in the community,” she said.
Volunteer Janice Tyrrell is charged with gathering craft items to be sold.
“I sort all the crafts,” she said as she was assembling a jar of buttons. “I’m into the crafts so I know what can be used.”
Volunteer Elaine Hannah is in charge of collecting and cleaning DVDs, CDs and even cassette tapes. She admits the work has left her with boxes of the items at home ready to be tested and cleaned.
Prices are kept low with purchases made for anywhere from 50 cents to a few dollars, Gooderham said.
The store attracts a steady stream of customers and has even seen people lined up outside before it opens on Tuesdays, the store manager added.
What is common for the volunteers is the fact they enjoy the work and their colleagues.
“It’s lots of fun, compared to other places I’ve worked,” North said of working at the store.
The GHVA also operates the hospital gift shop, hosts an annual Christmas in the Lobby event at Groves and participates in a grocery tape program where purchase tapes are bundled up and sent to Loblaws and L&M, which make donations back to the organization.
“The amount of [$100,372] worth of Zehrs tapes netted us a cheque for $223,” Kirby said of the program that sees volunteers adding up tapes in $5,000 and $10,000 increments.
“The [motto] we have is neighbours helping neighbours and, all proceeds going to the hospital,” Kirby added of the success she attributes to the volunteers, who put in hours of work “always with a smile.”
The Fergus store is open Tuesdays from 10am to 7:30pm and Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 4:30pm. Hours will be extended in December for the Christmas rush.
The Arthur store is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Carmine Paterson at 519-843-2010 ext. 3206 or drop by the hospital and pick up an application form.
