Saluting Volunteers

As National Volunteer Week is fast approaching, Bow Island & District Health Foundation would like to recognize and celebrate all of the volunteers who, in any way, enhance health care in our communities.

One of the Health Foundation’s biggest and most labor-intensive fundraiser is the upcoming Garage Sale.  The Foundation could not do this event without numerous volunteer hours to set up, conduct the sale and clean-up following. Not including the time spent behind the scenes in planning the event or the time spent by 100+ donors to gather and deliver items, in 2023, there was a total of 1100 recorded volunteer hours! Of those hours, approximately 30% were from Foundation Trustees, 45%from Community volunteers, and 25% from our youth – from the schools and youth group!  Funds raised are designated to support scholarships in the health care field and ongoing education to keep local health care providers current in their practice. We could not do this without your help!

The Foundation also relies heavily on Community support for volunteers to work at a casino every 18 months. Over the two-day commitment, over 80 hours of volunteer time is required to provide the staffing for the casino. This does not include the driving time – sometimes on pretty lousy roads!  The funds raised must be designated for government approved items such as equipment.  Again – we could not raise these funds without your help!

Thanks are also extended to the many individuals and organizations that volunteer time to enhance the day-to-day quality of life for Residents and Patients at Bow Island Health Centre.  

      * Registered volunteers devote their time to assisting with seasonal activities, resident outings, regularly scheduled activities such as an Ice Cream Cart, BINGO, Pamper & Polish, and Pet Visitation.  Several Foundation Trustees volunteer their time to visit with their pets.  Featured in the photo are Brenda Liggett (Foundation Chair) and her dog Tucker who are a registered Pet Therapy Team and can often be seen visiting by the outpatient lab at BIHC.  

      *The Hospital Auxiliary, now in their 66^th year, conduct monthly functions at Bow Island Health Centre and actively raise funds to support programs and projects at the Health Centre.

      *The Resident & Family Council has worked tirelessly over the past few years to provide entertainment and seasonal celebrations for the Long-Term Care Residents at BIHC. Unfortunately, this group will cease to operate after April 2025.  We would be remiss if we did not say “You will be missed.  Thank-you for a job well done!”

Finally, we want to recognize that there are many volunteers in our communities who enhance the quality of life and overall health of individuals by volunteering for community activities.  I’m sure you all know at least one or more of these individuals.  Please join the Health Foundation in saying

                                         “Thanks – we appreciate all that you do!”