SPONSORED BY NORTH ISLAND GAZETTE
The Port Hardy Hospital Auxiliary has been named community volunteer of the year in recognition of their tireless efforts to raise funds not only for the hospital but for many essential services in the community.
The Hosptial Auxiliary was originally formed in 1962, at a time when Port Hardy did not even have a local hospital for the group to fundraise for, so they joined with the North Vancouver Island Medical Society to provide the society with medical care.
“They even bought a home for the physician to live in while building the hospital,” said Sylvia Frankforth who has been president of the Port Hardy Hosptial Auxiliary for 21 years.
She said at that time being a member of the Auxiliary was even more dedication because to fundraise they held dances, raffles, and bazaars.
The Auxiliary then began operating the Port Hardy Thrift Store to raise money for many essential services including the Port Hardy Hospital, multi-level care, the Port Hardy Volunteer Fire Department, the Quatsino Fire Department, and a yearly $5,000 scholarship.
They have even sent $15,000 to the B.C. Children’s Hospital.
“I would say the Auxiliary has provided over 2 million dollars to the medical needs for the community,” said Frankforth, adding, “I think that last year we must have donated about 132,000 to the community.”
That includes the $34,000 cheque they donated in August of 2017 to Port Hardy Fire Rescue providing the funding to outfit the new Ladder 17 fire truck with state-of-the-art equipment.
“It’s a huge help to get that extra money, or else it would have been pretty bare bones,” said Port Hardy Fire Chief Brent Borg at the time, adding “It’s helped us and helped the town by giving us the tools we need to do our job effectively.”
Frankforth said they could not raise as much as they do without the help of donations from the community.
“Without the communities help of donations we wouldn’t be able to do it so the citizens give a lot,” she said, adding “The things that we donated that have helped out at the hospital and all of our community, of course, uses that and it helps out all of us and not just one person.”
The Auxiliary could not function, of course, without their dedicated members who volunteer countless hours to better the community.
“Volunteers are the angels on earth,” said Frankforth, adding “A lot of our girls have been in for over 25 years some of them have been right there from day one and they just put everything they have into it. Marg Wilson, who runs our Thrift Shop, she is so wonderful and she works so very, very hard.”
Wilson was recognized by the District of Port Hardy in 2015 for her outstanding volunteerism and commitment to the Port Hardy Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store.
“Her volunteer work commitment to the Port Hardy Auxiliary Thrift Shop has simply been enormous,” said Port Hardy Mayor Hank Bood during a speech that recognized Wilson’s Achievements.
“I am really pleased that we are being recognized,” said Frankforth, adding “It is really nice for the ladies to get recognition for the hard work they do.”
She also noted that the Port Hardy Hospital Auxiliary is always looking for new volunteers and younger people to join the Auxiliary.
“We would really appreciate anyone who would like to join,” said Frankforth, adding, “I enjoy doing the work that I do and I think all of the ladies feel the same way – We definitely have some very dedicated workers.
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