The non-profit organization that raises money to support local health care is celebrating its 40th birthday with one big present. Instead of receiving the gift, the group is giving it away.
At its annual general meeting on Monday night, the Sturgeon Hospital Auxiliary Volunteer Association (SHAVA) announced that it was presenting a cheque for $175,000 to Linda Cargill, the executive director of the Sturgeon Community Hospital. This amount brings the group’s lifelong total of donations to the hospital to over $2 million.
Kathy Okerman, director-at-large on the SHAVA board, said the members feel great at reaching both milestones of age and accomplishment.
“When a lot of the members at the [annual general meeting] had found out about how much we had donated in the 40 years, eyes just lit up, like ‘Wow! $2 million!’ It’s unbelievable.”
She related how the struggle to build support has continued to gain momentum since the very beginning. What started with only a few thousand dollars grew in the 1990s to more than $30,000. It’s only gotten bigger and better since then.
“I remember at that time the donation was $35,000 and 11 years later it’s $175,000,” stated Bev Kirchenberger, the co-ordinator of volunteer resources.
“Within 10 years we’ve tripled or quadrupled the amount,” Okerman said. “It’s just been absolutely remarkable. Everybody just feels so proud and elated.”
All of the funds go towards improving patient care by buying hospital equipment and funding other special projects.
“We were told … that the money we had donated last year had gone toward a new dialysis machine that has put the Sturgeon Hospital in competition with all the larger hospitals.” She said this has made a vast improvement in the lives of many people in the community.
The 225 volunteer members of the organization operate the hospital’s gift shop and the SHAVA Bookstore in Grandin Mall. They also hold special events like an annual craft fair as well as provide support through more than 26 program areas including the Adult Day Program, Caring Clowns, P.A.R.T.Y., Cardiac Clinic, Pet Therapy, Pastoral Care, as well as hosting afternoon teas for patients and their families.
For more information about SHAVA or to get involved, call Kirchenberger at 780-418-7375 or by email at [email protected].
