Though for most people, the majority of holiday planning commences after Remembrance Day, a few time-honoured traditions start a little early, by necessity.
Baking Christmas cakes in October to begin the biweekly cycle of drowning them in brandy; getting an early start on holiday shopping to avoid the mall hordes; and ordering the yearly assortment of vibrant poinsettias that will grace tables and mantels alike throughout the season.
And as with the best parts of the holiday season, thereB次元官网网址檚 a way to give back to the community while checking off your to-do list.
The Victoria General Hospital Auxiliary is taking orders for their B次元官网网址淧oinsettias 4 PatientsB次元官网网址� flower arrangements from now until next Friday (Nov. 14), raising funds to purchase a state-of-the-art electric stretcher for VGHB次元官网网址檚 emergency department.
B次元官网网址�(Island Health) has a budget for buying equipment,B次元官网网址� says Auxiliary secretary, Margot Hogg. B次元官网网址淭hey look at all the requests from all the departments and they figure out what they can afford. Then they send us a wish list.B次元官网网址�
This year the goal is to raise $12,000. B次元官网网址淭he important thing about this stretcher is itB次元官网网址檚 electric,B次元官网网址� Hogg says. B次元官网网址淵ou can change the position of the patient just by pushing a button, and it just makes it a lot easier for the staff in a lot of ways, as well as being much more comfortable for the patient.B次元官网网址�
This yearB次元官网网址檚 goal was influenced by the drive to help as many people as possible, she says. B次元官网网址�(VGH) is the trauma centre for the whole Island, and most of us will end up in the emergency room at some point, so we thought this was something that could serve a lot of people.B次元官网网址�
Coinciding with the last day of planter orders, the AuxiliaryB次元官网网址檚 annual B次元官网网址淐hristmas ChaosB次元官网网址� sale happens next Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the VGH lecture hall, room S263, just opposite Tim Hortons.
There will be a B次元官网网址渘ew and nearly newB次元官网网址� table, silent auction items, quilted creations, home baking, BeadforLife jewelry, local wool products and photography.
The poinsettias can be ordered online at vgha.ca, by email at info@vgha.ca, or at the VGH gift shop until Nov. 14. Free delivery available for bulk business orders. For more information on the Auxiliary group, call 250-598-3385.
acowan@goldstreamgazette.com
