Saturday December 14, 2019 ~ GREATER VICTORIA
~ West Shore Voice News
The Victoria General Hospital (VGH) Auxilitary reports success with their Poinsettia for Patients fundraising campaign again this holiday season.
In October and November, over 700 poinsettias were sold to local businesses and 88 people anonymously purchased poinsettias for delivery to patients who must remain in hospital over the holidays.
For the past decade the Auxiliary has sold plants to finance amenities and equipment for the hospital. “We are trying to improve the ambulatory lab and make it more kid friendly. Having blood taken can be traumatic enough, so we’re trying to make it feel more calming, ” says Val Smith continued VGH Auxiliary Vice-President.
The Auxiliary fundraises for the Victoria General, principally with the concourse gift shop, run entirely by volunteers, and selling Purdys chocolates, too.
“Millions have been raised for equipment and some more visible items over the years,” says Smith. “The plants which cheer up the concourse and cafeteria, benches outside, installing public Wifi so patients and visitors can have contact with the world outside.
The most notable accomplishment is creating the Oasis@3North. A project of the Auxiliary, Oasis@3North is a vast rooftop with trees and tables where patients, visitors, staff, and volunteers to unwind, visit with each other, and get some fresh air.
The Poinsettias for Patients campaign sells beautiful and rugged plants grown at Hilltop Greenhouses, which go to support a special project each year. They arrive to be sorted at Strawberry Vale Community Centre and are picked up and delivered at the end of November.
VGH is located in View Royal and primarily serves the south Vancouver Island area, with specialized units such as for the children.
The Auxiliary says it welcomes new members. Contact: info@VGHA.ca
==== NOTES:
VGH Poinsettias for Patients campaign 2019 (article November 7, 2019)