By Sheila Phibbs
The Haldimand Press
HAGERSVILLE—For as long as the West Haldimand General Hospital (WHGH) has existed, there has been the hospital Auxiliary. In fact, the Auxiliary was formed a year before the hospital opened its doors. The purpose of the Auxiliary is straight forward – to raise funds in support of the hospital. The impact of the Auxiliary is far greater and at its heart are the volunteers.
HAGERSVILLE—Since 1963, the WHGH Auxiliary has been integral to raising much needed funds for the hospital, contributing a grand total of $1,412,376.63. Pictured are volunteers with new equipment that was purchased for WHGH in 2022. Pictured standing next to a new blood bank fridge for the lab, are (l-r): Bonnie Lougheed; Jo-Ann Duns, WHGH Auxiliary President; Betty Peirson; Dianne Strohm; Karen McKellar, WHGH Manager of Support Services and Volunteer Coordinator; and Kathy Mehlenbacher.
When the WHGH Auxiliary was formed in 1963 there were six units covering different communities in the area: Caledonia, Cayuga, Fisherville, Hagersville, Jarvis, and Springvale. The number of volunteers was impressive, exceeding 300 in the early 1970s.
Auxiliary volunteers have participated in a variety of fundraising activities from hosting smorgasbords and serving in the coffee shop to assisting with light office duties, the elder care program, and other patient services. From sewing, knitting, and arranging flowers for the gift shop to greeting visitors at the information desk to working in the gardens, volunteers commit their time and talents to the betterment of the hospital and the patients.
Over the years, Auxiliary numbers have decreased – there are currently 66 members – and it now operates as one group rather than in separate units. While the pandemic imposed restrictions on their activities, current Auxiliary President Jo-Ann Duns says, “Things are getting back to normal.”
Normal means the Cafe and Gift Shop is open once again, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., to serve coffee, refreshments, and snacks, including “a great western sandwich!” Auxiliary members continue to provide articles of sewing and knitting and used books and puzzles are also available.
Cemetery saddles that are handcrafted in a work room at the hospital are back in the shop as well. The saddles are created by Darlene Smith and Joan Snowden, two of the longest serving members of the Auxiliary. Smith is happy to have the saddles available in the shop again as she recalls selling them out of the trunk of her car during the pandemic. According to Snowden, approximately 70 saddles are sold each year.
Duns, who has been the president since 2018, appreciates the work of the volunteers whose efforts ensure there is a pleasing selection of items in the gift shop. Along with the handcrafted articles, the shop features clothing and accessories. Duns emphasizes, “Any money that we make is for the hospital. We make sure everything is a good, reasonable price. Everything is priced under $50 and there’s no tax.”
HAGERSVILLE—Jo-Ann Duns (left), President of the WHGH Auxiliary, and Darlene Smith (right), show some of the cemetery saddles and other items available at the hospital Cafe and Gift Shop. —Haldimand Press photo by Sheila Phibbs.
Since 1964, the WHGH Auxiliary has given the hospital a grand total of $1,412,376.63. Todd Stepanuik, President and CEO of WHGH, describes the volunteers as a “driving force for our organization.”
“West Haldimand General Hospital would not be where it is today without the hard work and dedication of our amazing volunteers…. They are an important and valued asset of our hospital and make all the difference in the world for our patients, visitors, and staff,” he adds. “On behalf of West Haldimand General Hospital, I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for 60 years of giving by the Auxiliary. Their generosity and dedication are invaluable, and they have my deepest admiration and appreciation. Through their caring smiles, kind words, and helpful hands, our volunteers touch lives and lift spirits while helping our staff, physicians, patients, families, and visitors.”
Stepanuik continues, “They are passionate, energetic, dedicated, caring and, above all else, focused on supporting our patients and families. Every day, volunteers contribute to the betterment of this organization.”
No matter what role they take on, the contributions of these volunteers to local healthcare are significant. Whether creating items to sell, serving coffee and snacks, welcoming visitors, providing directions and information, or simply greeting someone with a much-needed smile, for 60 years the WHGH Auxiliary has created and maintained a legacy of making a difference in the lives of many.
A Thank You Celebration honouring the 60 years of the WHGH Auxiliary will be held on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 2 p.m. in the WHGH cafeteria. There will be music, refreshments, and free parking.
Volunteer with the WHGH Auxiliary & make a difference
HAGERSVILLE – The WHGH Auxiliary has been serving the community for 60 years, with member benefits including building confidence, learning new skills, brightening someone’s day, raising funds for new equipment, having fun working with a great group of volunteers, being informed about the hospital and the healthcare field, and feeling you’re part of a worthwhile cause.
Current President Jo-Ann Duns has experienced all of this since becoming a volunteer in 1989 after moving to Hagersville. She says, “I always loved volunteering and my neighbour encouraged me to join.” At that time, the coffee shop was open on Saturdays, which was the ideal time for Duns to volunteer as she worked full time.
Duns shares, “I love meeting new people and serving the public with a happy smile.” She believes that smile is a part of patient care. Duns also appreciates that the proceeds go back to WHGH, noting that her family has used them “many times over the years.”
HAGERSVILLE— Bonnie Lougheed (left) and Jo-Ann Duns show the new table top packager, which is used on the third floor to package pills for patients.
—Submitted photos.
The longest serving volunteer of the Auxiliary is Darlene Smith, who joined in 1972. She was working as a hair dresser at the time and a customer who managed the coffee and gift shop suggested she join. According to Smith, each of the six Auxiliary units (Caledonia, Cayuga, Fisherville, Hagersville, Jarvis, Springvale) took turns filling the peg board in the coffee shop gift section. She says, “That’s how they got inventory.”
She recalls representatives of the Auxiliary visiting the Welland hospital to see how they operated their coffee shop. They started attending a Gift Show in Toronto for more inventory ideas. Smith went on to manage the WHGH coffee shop for over 40 years.
Smith is one of the creators of the cemetery saddles along with Joan Snowden. She says, “Joan and I are known as the Flower Girls.” She is happy that they are able to sell the saddles in the gift shop again as pandemic restrictions have lifted.
As a volunteer, Smith says, “I worked at the hospital because it took in a big area and helped the most people. It is important to get the money for equipment.”
Joan Snowden joined the Auxiliary a year after Smith. She was invited to join by a neighbour and she eventually worked for the WHGH Foundation. When she joined, the total Auxiliary membership was at 325. She shares that the volunteers helped with lunches and suppers for the patients and assisted them if needed. The Auxiliary also took part in the “Buckle Up Baby” program.
Though she has retired from working in the coffee shop, she continues to make the cemetery saddles. Reflecting on her years of volunteering, she says, “I have enjoyed it all. It’s a very good place to meet people. They’re very friendly and everybody is nice to be with. It’s a very good organization to be affiliated with.”
The WHGH Auxiliary is always welcoming of volunteers, including those who are newer to the area. Sharon Woods has been a member for 15 years and says, “It gets you out and you meet the public. It’s a very nice place. I enjoy it.”
One of the newest volunteers is Suzete Raposo, who joined in 2022. She says, “I’m new to Hagersville…. I enjoy meeting people and helping people out with whatever they need.”
Raposo lives close to the hospital so the Auxiliary was the ideal volunteer opportunity. She says, “I like to be there. It gives me good feelings and it’s very rewarding.”
Raposo enjoys getting to know the patients during their hospital stay and hopes to get more involved in helping with the elderly patients. Her enthusiasm for volunteering is evident as she exudes, “My main reason for joining is I want to be part of a community. I would recommend volunteering to anyone.”
While the WHGH Auxiliary is no longer divided into units, the membership still reflects so many communities in the area. Every volunteer is welcomed and appreciated for the role they play in patient care.
Duns adds, “Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose helping those in your community and providing a service to others.”
To learn more about joining the WHGH Auxiliary, visit them online at whgh.ca/volunteers.
