Any organization that has been around for nine decades has to learn to adapt with the times and the Prince George hospital auxiliary is no different.
Founded in 1919, the services the auxiliary provides have evolved over the years. In the past the group did things like take photos of newborn babies, provide car seat rentals and even wash the hair of patients.
"I think people used to stay in the hospital longer than they do now," hospital auxiliary president Rhonda Loose said Friday while taking a break from serving free ice cream sundaes as part of Auxiliary Day celebrations.
Now the volunteers staff information desks, wash toys on the pediatric unit, make tray favours to give patients a special surprise when they get their meals, bring books and magazines to patients and make quilts.
Operating the hospital gift shop as well as the downtown thrift store remain the main fundraising activities for the auxiliary with the proceeds going to the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation. Each year the group is able to write a six-figure cheque to help purchase equipment.
"People put in grant requests and we say, 'would we like to fund this,' " Loose explained. "Our constitution says that we buy equipment and other things within the hospital for the comfort of the patient."
All told, auxiliary members put in a combined 30,000 to 40,000 volunteer hours each year to help the University Hospital of Northern B.C. run more smoothly.
Although most of the more than 200 members of the auxiliary are women, there are a handful of men who are regular volunteers with the organization. Loose said having more men join is one potential area for growth.
Among the future projects for the auxiliary is increasing its online presence with a website and social media accounts.
"The thing we would like to get going is a website, because that's the way of the world," Loose said. "We just need someone to help us develop a web page."
Volunteer application forms are available at the hospital gift store and at the information desk.
"If someone wants to develop friendships and be a force for good in the community, the auxiliary is a good place to volunteer," Loose said.
