Healthcare auxiliaries are most often associated with the donations they give to hospitals to make the stay for acute care patients better.
But, on the Sunshine Coast, the Healthcare Auxiliary expanded their reach three years ago and handed out 24,000 dollars worth of grants to a number of organizations working to prevent hospital stays in the first place.
Jen Gray said the organization handed out 80,000 dollars in grants last year and again this year and, she says the recipients are a diverse group.
“We help with a program called Bellies and Babies, which is pre and postnatal nutrition and a support group all the way up to a senior’s initiative in Pender Harbour which reaches out to isolated seniors in their homes. It spans the whole spectrum in the community for sure.”
Gray said the Auxiliary raises money through sales at its Thrift Store on Cowrie, a gift shop at the Sechelt hospital and other smaller fundraising initiatives and the grant program is a real feel-good initiative.
“When we read the applications and the implications of the impact and then you hand the cheques out and actually meet the people they are so passionate about their small program. They send us a report at the end of the year and they say, these are the numbers of people you impacted, these are their comments about being involved in the program, it feels really good.”
In all, ten grants were handed out and recipients included the Pender Harbour Health Centre, the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society’s Dad’s Matter and Women’s Counselling Services.
Also getting a grant was the Arrowhead Clubhouse, the Hospice Society, the Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living and, Special Olympics, Sunshine Coast.
