‘It’s sad to see it go’
Cumberland’s health-care auxiliary ends 115 years of service
Vicki Daley is both sad to see an old friend disappear, but happy to see its legacy continue.
After 115 years, the Cumberland Health Care Auxiliary is saying a sad farewell but its work will live on through the Cumberland Health Care Foundation.
“It’s sad to see it go but this isn’t the end,” said Daley, a longtime auxiliary board member and supporter. “The auxiliary has played a prominent role in our hospital’s story and, with the community’s assistance, has raised lots of money for important medical equipment that’s used throughout the hospital.”
Like many organizations, the auxiliary was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions. Its major fundraiser, the annual Highland Fling, was postponed for two consecutive years while other funding activities – the gift shop and coffee shop at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre - were also hindered by restrictions at the hospital.
Time has also hurt the auxiliary as many of its most ardent supporters have grown older without an infusion of newer, younger helpers. Daley said it has been difficult to get new executive members, adding its final president, Ida Roode, was the only executive member remaining the last couple of years.
“She tried really hard to recruit people but it wasn’t working. We started looking for new people back in 2017 but people weren’t coming forward,” Daley said. “Thank God for Bob (Janes) because he really stepped up and kept things going.”
Janes said it’s tough to see the auxiliary fade away.
“You can’t run it if you don’t have an executive and you need people to serve on the executive,” Janes said. “I’m the auxiliary’s representative on the foundation and I knew there might be an interest in maintaining it.”
After several foundation meetings it was decided that organization would take over for the auxiliary and maintain both the coffee and gift shop at the hospital with money raised being used to purchase medical equipment. The change took place April 1.
“It’s tough to see it go but it’s a sign of the times. Everyone’s having a difficult time finding volunteers,” Janes said. “For us, COVID ended our continuity because volunteers were not allowed into the hospital for the longest time. If you don’t have that continuity the interest starts fading. And as much as we were looking for new people, COVID scared them.”
Janes expects the foundation will look at continuing the auxiliary’s fundraisers, including possibly bringing back the Highland Fling sometime in the future. It will also call on its volunteers to support future events.
Despite having to say goodbye, Daley said the auxiliary has always had a willing and supportive partner in the foundation that will carry the torch.
“It really served our community well,” she said. “We have been fortunate to have the relationship we do with the foundation. We’ve been very supportive of each other and they’ve always been there for us when needed.”
Since 2000, more than $1 million has been raised to purchase equipment.
In 2019, just months before COVID-19 struck, the auxiliary provided $50,000 to purchase a Nursing Anne Simulator while in 2018 in purchased a bedside ventilator for $40,000 and in 2017 it bought a cryotome for the surgical unit ($28,500), a BiPap unit for ICU ($20,510) and a C-MAC Laryngoscope ($28,500).
Foundation managing director Gwen Kerr said the work of the auxiliary to better health care in Cumberland County will continue.
“We will do our very best to carry on the auxiliary’s work as a testament to their legacy,” said Kerr. “It’s a very emotional transition and we can’t thank the auxiliary members, past and present, enough for all they have accomplished.”
Board chair Lisa Emery said the foundation’s board of directors is unanimous in its praise of the auxiliary.
“They hold this new responsibility close to their hearts and are grateful for the ability to carry on this important work at our hospital,” said Emery.