By Cecilia Nasmith

With a 100th anniversary in November 2023, the Northumberland Hills Hospital Auxiliary has plenty of time to make some exciting plans, Chair Selena Forsyth reported at the hospital board's April meeting.

Meanwhile, their other work also goes on. They are searching for a business services manager with retail experience who can oversee their three fundraising streams – the Petticoat Lane thrift shop, the Little Treasure Shoppe gift shop and their Crafters sales.

There is a new co-ordinator at Petticoat Lane, bringing new energy and ideas. And if anyone is downsizing or spring cleaning, Forsyth urges them to keep Petticoat Lane in mind for anything they want to donate.

At the Little Treasure Shoppe, look out for the draw that will take place April for three gift baskets worth $75 to $100. Tickets are $5 or three for $10.

More good news is that the auxiliary volunteers are working in the hospital again – except in the emergency department and the front desk – and they are very happy to be back.

And Forsyth was also glad to offer an update on the auxiliary's pledge to donate $1-million toward the purchase of NHH's Epic clinical information system, in the form of figures compiled by their director of finance Richard Holland.

Of the $120,000 the auxiliary was able to kick in following the 2021-2022 fiscal year, $35,000 came from the Little Treasure Shoppe, $70,000 from Petticoat Lane and $15,000 was from donations – amazing, Forsyth said, given the challenges everyone faced during that time.

It's their eighth contribution, putting them $808,159 toward that million-dollar pledge.

“We will make our million by our 100th anniversary,” she declared.

Foundation chair Wendy Ito could not be present, but board Chair Pam Went read from the report she submitted.

The big news, Went said, is that in-person events are back.
“The first one is a new one to my knowledge,” she said – the fundraiser they will have at the June 17-18 Highland Games in Cobourg. The foundation has been offered space at the event, and details will be announced soon.

One of her favourite fundraisers (and she is not alone in this) is the Wine and Ale in the Park event June 29 in Cobourg's Victoria Park - “a wonderful way to kick off the summer down by the water in a big, big tent.” Ticket sales will start soon, and she advises moving quickly as they are often sold out.

The annual gala returns Nov. 5, and they plan to repeat last year's successful inaugural Galalicious.

“It was very successful, and local restaurants are keen to be partners in that again,” Went said.

Speaking of restaurants, she hopes everyone will visit McDonald's May 11, as the foundation is this year's beneficiary of McHappy Day sales.