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Ladysmith Healthcare Auxiliary |
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Newsletter Summer/Fall 2021 |
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Ladysmith inlet viewed from Doris Gallagher Memorial Gardens |
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Welcome to our Summer/Fall of 2021 Newsletter.
Hello to our valued membership!
My goodness, it seems like an age ago that we sent our last Newsletter. So much has happened - from sweltering heatwaves forest fires, and ongoing COVID precautions keeping us on tenterhooks. As per BC Health Authorities, we will continue to require masks for all, sanitize, and keep our social distances.
I hope this finds you all safe and healthy.
Steffen Toxopeus, our PR Director, has been busy preparing newsy items for this mail-out and I hope you enjoy sharing in the positivity reflected in our activities. While the past year has had its limitations, your Executive Board has not been idle behind the scenes. With an unrelenting eye on fiscal responsibility, along with the (much appreciated!) hard work of dedicated volunteers, we witness the roaring volume of donated goods being sorted, processed, tagged, neatly hung on racks, folded into stacks, piled on shelves, cleaned, wiped, and polished!
Trade is brisk - so much so - that we are grateful to have hired our new full-time Manager, Tara McHugh-Lee. She enjoys the support of Deanna Noonan (Assistant Mgr), and Mario Gauvian (Maintenance Mgr.) as they work together to navigate the twists and turns of Thrift Store operations. We now enjoy a more modern š and spacious processing space - have filled it to the rafters - and continue serving record numbers of customers. COVID has brought its share of complexities: working with masks has become the norm, navigating safety protocols, balancing higher intake volumes with decreased availability of culled item pick-up - yet increased disposal and business expenses. And, due to valid health and safety concerns - all accomplished while drawing on a drastically reduced volunteer base. We hope that more of our volunteers will soon feel safe enough to return to their regular shifts and schedules. When you do - we welcome you with open arms!
We are grateful to those volunteers who have stepped up to additional shifts, offered their precious time, and work so hard. Your help has been invaluable! Thank you!
Now - on to the vivacious stories, newsy tidbits, and sharing of successes of our Ladysmith Healthcare Auxiliary! Enjoy the read!
With kind regards,
Ruth Goodbody, President
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Mark your calendars!
Sunday, September 19th from 1 - 3pm
Sunday, September 19th marks our annual volunteer drive to attract more people to volunteer with us. The Thrift Store urgently needs cashiers, receivers, taggers, sorters, and people who are handy at testing incoming hardware and electrics. Computer and book-keeping skills, merchandising, repairing, sewing - you name them - we'll gladly put you to work!
Remember: Our best ambassadors are you, our members. š¤©
Want to nudge your friends and neighbors into joining us
in our noble causes and activities? Here's your chance to introduce
them to the Ladysmith Healthcare Auxiliary! If September 19th doesn't
work for you, drop by the Thrift Store for an application form, call Tara or Deanna, our Thrift Store Managers (250-245-5225), or email Nairne Culver: nairneculver@gmail.com
Have you been wondering whether you'd like to join us on the Executive Board?
Board positions will be opening up and our Nominations Committee welcomes energetic, innovative do-ers! Have you got PR and grant-writing skills? Administrative or book-keeping know-how; or IT skills? Contact Jennifer Forrest for more info: pastpres.lhaux@gmail.com - or - join us on September 19th from 1-3 pm!
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Recent Donations made by the Ladysmith Healthcare Auxiliary |
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- Cowichan Hospice Society: $10,000 for their valuable Grief Support Program.
(L to r: Christa Fox, Board Director of Cowichan Hospice with Gretchen Hartley, Executive Director receiving the donation cheque from Eithne Reichert and Ruth Goodbody)
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- Variety, The Childrenās Charity: $5,000 for medical equipment up to $2500 earmarked per Ladysmith child.
- The Canadian Red Cross Society Central Island HELP Service: $5,000 to replenish critically short equipment ā wheelchairs, commodes and two wheeled walkers.
- Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association (CTRA): $2,500 for upkeep of Josepha, their therapeutic riding horse.
If you're wondering what therapeutic horses are all about, click on these following links to view two short YouTube videos. Just Like Them and Ember Had a Dream
(L to r: Jess Fraser, Executive Director of the CTRA with Josepha, Ruth Goodbody, and Eithne Reichert)
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- Ladysmith Family & Friends (LaFF): $20,000 for support to Ladysmith families in crisis
- Recently approved by the General Membership: Nanaimo Child Development Centre (NCDC): $10,034.80 toward adaptive equipment for children with developmental delays.
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Pam's Patio - A Plaque in Honour! |
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Pam Fraserās brothers, John, Rick and Bruce, after hearing about the Thrift Store building project for the past five years, wanted to donate a plaque to commemorate their sisterās efforts. The Executive approved the idea - and its installation next to the patio. In July an enthusiastic gathering of Pamās family and building committee celebrated the unveiling of the plaque. (done by Pamās grandson James) š.
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The plaque - by loving brothers! |
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Thumbs up from Pam's family šš½! |
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Ladysmith Thrift Store wins VIREB commercial building award for best renovation |
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The Ladysmith Health Care Auxiliary Thrift Store has won the VIREB commercial building award for best renovation.
The Health Care Auxiliary commenced renovation work at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic with Qualicum-based construction company MKM Projects Ltd. Jack Anderson, owner of Anderson Green Plan ā a community planning and architectural firm in Cedar ā designed the newly renovated space. Project work was also carried out by Waymark Architecture.
And it was no small feat. The Health Care Auxiliary planned an addition of more than 3,000 square feet. The new building is used as a space for volunteers to sort community donations, as the previous space was too small for the huge volume of donations that get dropped off at the thrift store every day. The new space has also opened up additional space for retail in the previous volunteer sorting space.
After eight months of renovation, the Thrift Storeās new space was opened on November 14, 2020.
Pam Fraser was the lead on the renovation for the Health Care Auxiliary. She says that customers and volunteers are both loving the new renovation.
āItās improved certainly, other than the fact that our hours are shorter and thereās a limited number of people who can come in due to COVID.ā
The Health Care Auxiliary has been operating a thrift store at 910 1st Avenue since 1990 and set about expansion plans in 2010. They purchased the house next door in 2011 for future expansion. In 2016 we started the long process of planning, zoning changes and permit gathering.
āThere were a few sleepless nights, but it all came through in the end,ā Fraser said.
[Courtesy of the Ladysmith Chronicle, May 9, 2021]
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Looking at the new extension from across 1st Ave. |
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New extension processing areas. |
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Ladysmith Days - August 1st, 2021 |
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August 1st, 2021 marked Ladysmith Days, which featured a parade of processions and floats along First Ave. We won second place for our Mardi Gras themed entry. The candies we gave out were popular and the little kids' books were a big hit. Families with children lining the parade route was great to see. It was a fun way to promote the Auxiliary and all the great things we do. Thanks to all members who participated and helped out: Chip Adams, Shirley Allen, Jacob Bird, Nairne Culver, Gillian Dolling, Debbie Dystant, Louise Epp, Jennifer Forrest, Pam Fraser, Mario Gauvin, Ruth Goodbody, Pierce Lindenhoff, April Marrington (Thrifty), Eithne Reichert, Marty West and Abbie Wiltshire.
Below are a few photos of the LHA on parade.
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Sewers (the stitching kind!) Wanted |
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Do you like to sew? Have you got your machine up and running? We are looking for people to help sew items for several of LHA's programs. Please call Nairne at 250-245-4481 or email: nairneculver@gmail.com.
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Gabriola Visit |
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GABE and the C2C Fashion Show |
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On August 19, 2021 a few Ladysmith Auxiliary ladies attended the C2C Threads Textile Initiative Fashion Show and Fundraiser on Gabriola Island. The day's outing was a fun way to explore parts of the island, as well as find out more about Gabriola's textile recycling initiatives.
Before the show we visited with Simone Halpin, BCAHA Vancouver Island Area Director, who also manages the Gabriola Auxiliary Business Enterprise (GABE) Thrift Store (Gabriola Island for Island Health Care Society). Simone was kind enough to give us a tour, proudly show their merchandising skills, lovely boutique wares, and explain their pricing policies. It's a gorgeous shop with the added feature of an ice-cream booth right outside their main entrance š¦!
Pictured below with smiling faces: (l to r): Lynn Nightingale, Tara McHugh-Lee, Sara Stayte, Eithne Reichert, Simone Halpin, Pam Fraser, and Ruth Goodbody.
Special thanks to Simone Halpin for being such a gracious host!
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Acknowledgement by the BC Cancer Society's Vancouver Island Lodge, Victoria |
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This photo of the Vancouver Island Cancer Lodge plaque of funders was sent to Pam Fraser. The hard work of Ladysmith Healthcare Auxiliary volunteers and members helped fund comfortable surroundings for cancer patients during their treatments. The Lodge is situated next to the Jubilee Hospital in Victoria.
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Presentation of a layette to Dan DeClarke on the safe arrival of his new baby boy! Special thanks to Miriam Rose and her Layette Committee who make up and distribute approximately 70 layettes per year to Ladysmith and area babies.
(L to r): Tara McHugh-Lee, Dan DeClarke, Deanne Noonan and Ruth Goodbody
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Welcome to our newest members! |
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We warmly welcome David, Sharon, Abbie, Natalie, Shanda, Marty, Richard, Emma, Corinne, Romona, Nadine, Alex, Abby, Bowie, Pearl, Susan, Tara, Darrin, Keeva, Krista, Tanya and Sue.
Welcome to the Ladysmith Healthcare Auxiliary!
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And finally - a little chuckle ... š |
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Senility Prayer
God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell the difference.
[Author unknown: Found by Pam Fraser in the LHA Archives]
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Should you have any questions, comments, or ideas for our next Ladysmith Healthcare Auxiliary Newsletter please feel free to contact Steffen Toxopeus, PR Director at: pr.lhaux@gmail.com
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