Spring is in the air and soon we will have some hanging baskets put up around the hospital.
These are donated by the Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary, and we purchase them each year for the enjoyment of everyone who is a patient, a visitor or who may work here.
It is a way for our auxiliary to make coming to the hospital a bit more enjoyable.
The two extended-care pavilions will soon be receiving some gardening supplies that will be purchased from a donation from the auxiliary.
Residents are taken out to a local nursery to purchase flowers so that they can plant them. The residents enjoy gardening and it is modified so that everyone is able to participate.
It is so nice to sit outside in the warm weather and just enjoy the sunshine and the nice plants. It is much nicer when the patients have been involved in the planning of their own spaces.
The auxiliary is busy in the summer. Our Superfluity Shop is a great place to purchase some nice summer clothes and there are always new items for sale.
The gift shop continues to have new items and they have lots of new items for sale.
It seems that there are new things for sale each week.
The Flower Power people continue to make flower arrangements that are very reasonably priced.
Every week we have volunteers who go to the extended care pavilions with a gift cart. Patients can purchase small items including such items as candy, chips and toiletries. Many residents are not able to get to the Gift Shop, so this is very important for them.
The junior auxiliary continue their work all summer.
They help the residents in many ways, including visiting residents on a one-to-one basis and serving ice cream on Sundays.
Each month the auxiliary provides a birthday party for all the residents of extended care. Each floor has a birthday party for all of the people who have celebrated a birthday. A cake is purchased and there is always cheese and biscuits for those who do not eat cake.
It is so important to celebrate these special occasions and more so when some of our residents may not have any family close by.
The auxiliary is open to everyone, and we welcome new members. There is always lots of work to do and it is a great way to meet new people in the community
If you would like to join us there are applications in the Superfluity Shop on Prospect Avenue and also at the information desk in the lobby of the hospital.
Felicity Matthews writes monthly on behalf of the Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary.
