She was hesitant, at first, to join the fun her mom seemed to be having with the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Auxiliary.
It was more than six years ago when mom Elaine, buyer for the hospital gift shop, asked her daughter, Amanda Laranjo, to join her with the auxiliary.
“I was reluctantly recruited by my mom, the gift shop buyer, which is a busy but fun role for her,” said Laranjo. “She loves it.”
And so does daughter.
Laranjo was then asked in 2023 to sit as the Okanagan Mainline Area director with the B.C. Association of Hospital Auxiliaries, the provincial body that offers support, education, and resources to all auxiliaries within B.C. She recently returned from the 2024 provincial conference in Kamloops, where nearly 230 volunteers attended.
“Conferences are a great time and offer opportunity to network with other auxiliaries across the province,” said Laranjo.”Through collaboration and workshops, we spent three days working to not only enhance, but also celebrate our fundraising achievements. They are fun.”
Since 1986, the VJH Auxiliary has contributed more than $3.2 million to the hospital, which includes $160,000 for an Intensive Care Unit room in the Polson Tower; $60,000 for a CT scanner; and $20,000 for a sacred space room.
The VJH auxiliary is run by volunteers. The auxiliary donates to buying hospital equipment and providing comfort care for the patients, raising money through sales from the gift shop and through various fundraising events.
Laranjo is hoping to have some new blood join an auxiliary that has six lifetime members that have been part of the group for more than 20 years. The auxiliary has a board of nine, including Laranjo, three associate members, and 49 active members to date.
“Our oldest members that have been volunteering for the past 60, 56 and 46 years,” she said. “Many others for over 30 years. It’s a unique bunch but we are clearly aging out.”
Volunteers are not restricted to committing any particular length of time. Board positions are two years but the auxiliary has amended its bylaws to allow for up to eight years.
“Same as in most non-profit societies, we have a handful doing the majority of work,” said Laranjo. “But it’s such a good cause to belong to. Every one of us at one time or another has needed or will need the medical support of our hospital.”
If you’d like to volunteer, or for more information, call/text Laranjo at 250-308-0228, or apply online at www.interiorhealth.ca.
King Charles III has proclaimed Friday, May 10, as Healthcare Auxiliaries Day in B.C.
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