The postcards announcing the launch of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Barrie Memorial Hospital’s annual fall membership drive and fundraiser were delivered to homes across the Valley earlier this month, and donations are already starting to come in.
JoAnn McClintock, who chairs the membership campaign, says that while the postcard campaign works well, they have noticed a decrease in memberships to around 500. Donations remain fairly stable though down a bit also, she adds, while suggesting the area continues to be very generous.
Two years ago, the organization decided to expand its mission – the promotion and advancement of health services in the Haut-Saint-Laurent – to include offering support to health and community organizations outside the Barrie Memorial Hospital. In 2023-2024, the Women’s Auxiliary purchased therapeutic dolls for the Centre d’Hébergement Ormstown ($800), a bilirubinometer and accessories for the Huntingdon CLSC ($12,142), as well as 12 beds and mattresses for the hospital ($68,213), and small equipment such as a toaster and microwave ($2,196).
A $700 donation was made to the Centre d’Hébergement Ormstown for an event, and on two occasions the employees at the hospital were treated to cookies from Tim Horton’s during the restaurant’s annual Smile campaigns. A $1,000 donation was also made to the Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) mental health team at the CLSC to provide a Christmas dinner for their clients.
The Women’s Auxiliary has also approved the purchase of a defibrillator for the Ormstown Fire Department.
An additional $230,233 has been authorized for purchases that have yet to be made. “There is quite a process,” says McClintock, who explains there is a delay between the times requests are received and approved for larger items, as purchasing goes through the Centre intégré de santé et services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO). Among the items waiting to be purchased are therapeutic mattresses and wheelchairs.
McClintock says that along with its purchasing power, the Women’s Auxiliary is also a powerful voice pushing for more services at the Barrie Memorial. “They [the CISSSMO] announced projects in Valleyfield, they announced projects in Chateauguay, and nothing has been announced for here yet, but we’re still working on it,” she explains. “We get a voice to the right person to let them know we are here. As soon as they come up with any big projects, we are ready to support them.”
In the meantime, McClintock says the Auxiliary will continue to use the donations it receives to support smaller but important needs such as beds, wheelchairs, and equipment.