The Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital Auxiliary (DHMHA) and contributing community partners shared in the celebration of the installation of a newly purchased X-ray machine on Thursday July 3 at the hospital in Clearwater.
Gail Capostinsky, communications and public relations coordinator for the DHMHA told the Clearwater Times the hospital auxiliary has helped coordinate fundraising from the entire community for the machine.
"We receive a large number of donations that are used to purchase equipment for our hospital, but many donations, both large and small were received to be directed specifically toward the X-ray machine. This is true community partnering in action," Capostinky said.
President of the hospital auxiliary, Carol Pastorek, said the auxiliary was surprised to see an X-ray machine on the wish list from the hospital in 2023.
"The Vavenby Thrift Shop put out a donation jar, which was filled many times by individuals and volunteer organizations came forward with donations," Pastorek said. "Thanks to a large grant from Wells Gray Community Forest, the $300,000 needed was jointly raised within a year. We now look forward to having a state-of-the-art X-ray machine in our hospital. A huge thank you to everyone involved in this endeavour.”
The list of donations for the new X-ray machine acknowledged by the hospital auxiliary board includes Wells Gray Community Forest Society, The Clearwater Curiosity Thrift Shoppe, Roland and Anne Neave, Fritz and Ursula Schaer, Murray Stockton, Clearwater Carpet Bowlers, Trinity Shared Ministry, The Royal Canadian Legion branch #259, Linda MacLennan, Nicole Hebert and the Vavenby Thrift Shop customers.
If you are interested in joining the Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, you can email them at: dhmhaux@gmail.com.
