They made a commitment to provide $100,000 within three years for updated equipment in the local hospital鈥檚 operating room, and they are right on schedule and perhaps, just a little ahead of where they expected to be, heading into the second year of the mandate.聽
The St. Joseph鈥檚 Hospital Auxiliary with an active membership of over 50, presented a cheque in the amount of $30,000 on Dec. 2 to Greg Hoffort, executive director of the hospital.聽
The auxiliary is being aided in their effort by the Estevan United Way team who was represented by their president Wendy Gustafson at the Dec. 2 tea and bake sale in the hospital鈥檚 auditorium where the presentation took place.聽
Nola Joseph and Eva Hagel said the operating room refurbishment will include a new operating table, a dual doctor cart for medical and dental surgeries and an infant care table.聽
鈥淭his is our second payment toward the target,鈥� said Joseph.聽
In accepting the cheque, Hoffort paid tribute to the auxiliary and the United Way for assisting the hospital in 鈥渒eeping up with technology and changes that are needed. These changes are continual, but our auxiliary is a fine example of no change when it comes to consistency in providing for this hospital. They鈥檝e been doing it for 76 years.鈥澛�
Joseph said the auxiliary generally makes a couple of donations a year, one in May and another near the end of the year.聽
The money raised comes from a variety of auxiliary activities and events such as the tea and bake sale which was a near sellout with over 80 people packed into the auditorium during the peak period of the Dec. 2 event. Memorial donations or legacy donations are sometimes part of the funding commitment.聽
鈥淲e received up to $20,000 from the United Way last year too,鈥� said Joseph, commenting on the additional assistance that is so vital to the success of the auxiliary鈥檚 fundraising efforts. Joseph added that it was good to see several new and younger faces within the auxiliary鈥檚 membership that will help bolster the confidence of the veteran members and bring new energy to their many activities.
