Annual Espanola Hospital Auxiliary Christmas raffle winners announced
Article content
On Dec. 19, a drawing was held for the Espanola Regional Hospital and Health Centre Auxiliary Annual Christmas raffle.
This year’s winners are: Janet Hillman, from Webbwood; Joan McClare from Espanola; and Marilyn Ottokar from Massey.
Hillman won the first-place prize, a basket that is valued around $1,000 in prizes donated from various businesses in Espanola.
The second prize was a handmade Christmas lap-quilt won by McClare.
The third-place prize basket was a dog and cat themed basket full of items donated by Pet Valu in the Espanola Mall. The winner from Massey has both cats and dogs so should enjoy the prize valued at $150.
The annual Christmas raffle, held by the auxiliary, is just one of many ways the group of almost 40 volunteers raise money to go towards much needed hospital equipment that is not covered by the Ontario government.
The annual Christmas raffle, plus a Christmas tea and bazaar along with the In-Memoriam Christmas tree at the hospital keep the volunteers busy all through November and December.
During the year, the auxiliary volunteers operate the hospital gift shop, creating unique and beautiful crafted items to sell in the shop, helping to fundraise.
Come February, there is a Valentine’s Day bake sale. In October, the auxiliary puts on the annual pumpkin pancake breakfast at the Recreation Complex serving almost 200 pancake breakfasts. Long-time auxiliary member, Sandra Courtemanche says that 100% of the funds raised from all their fundraising incentives go directly to purchase necessary equipment at the hospital.
From 1996 to February 2006, the auxiliary raised $103,917 that was given to the hospital towards the purchase of a new x-ray machine. They had managed to average about $10,000 a year for the 10 years. From then on, the auxiliary raised funds for specific purchases, such as, a laryngoscope, a shower chair system, a portable ventilator, and acute care bed, and many other pieces of much needed hospital equipment.
In 2010, the total raised jumped to $16,000.
Since then every year they have managed to average $25,000 a year from the fundraisers, and for 2019, the total exceeded $30,000. People sometimes assume this equipment is provided by the provincial government, but that isn’t the case, added Courtemanche.
All efforts are now directed at raising funds towards the purchase of a new x-ray suite.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.