Volunteer Association gives more than just their time to GBGH as National Volunteer Week approaches
April 10, 2018 – The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Volunteer Association recently presented a cheque for $88,000 to the hospital. The funds will go toward the purchase of GBGH’s new CT scanner, equipment which takes pictures of organs and organ systems inside the body to determine a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
Expected to be operational in the fall of 2018, the new scanner will replace a 13 year old unit at the end of its lifespan. The new CT will provide better image quality, reduce radiation doses and increase the types of exams offered at GBGH.
“The Volunteer Association chose to support the new CT scanner because technology advances so quickly and it’s an important component of GBGH’s Diagnostic Imaging department that must remain current,” says Karen Roberts, president, GBGH Volunteer Association. “Everything we do as volunteers is to ultimately help our patients, so investing in the new CT will mean better, more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatments for patients.”
The money was raised based on revenue from the Volunteer Association’s two hospital businesses – the Coffee Bar and the Gift shop – as well as proceeds from bake and flower sales, and the clothing drive which raised more than $10,000 for the association in 2017-18. The Volunteer Association also donates annually to the staff education fund – $10,000 in the past year.
“GBGH’s volunteers are extremely generous and motivated to provide for their hospital – through both their volunteering and fundraising efforts,” says Kathy Elsdon-Befort, interim executive director of the GBGH Foundation. “In addition to this latest donation from our volunteers, we do still need to raise more to purchase the CT. Hospital equipment is not funded by the government so we rely on community support to make purchases. Typically, we can expect equipment to have a seven to ten year lifespan, so we ask donors to consider directing their gifts toward ensuring we have the best tools available to patients when they need us.”
The Volunteer Association donation falls just before National Volunteer Week – April 15 to 21, 2018. The hospital is celebrating its 185-person volunteer force, also known as the ‘Blue Jackets’ with an appreciation lunch and inspiring stories of volunteerism throughout the week. The Blue Jackets donate 35,000 hours to the hospital each year – the equivalent of more than $500,000 in wages.
“We are so fortunate to have our Blue Jackets and they deserve to be recognized for their efforts this week and throughout the year,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “Our volunteers do so much for this hospital. Whether it’s the friendly face you see when you first walk in our doors, fundraising for equipment like our CT scanner, helping patients at mealtime, serving coffee at our coffee bar or getting patients out of bed and moving, we really couldn’t do what we do without them. They are an integral part of the GBGH team and we couldn’t be more thankful for them and proud of them.”
GBGH is in need of more volunteers. To become a volunteer, applications are available at the hospital’s gift shop, coffee bar, Emergency department volunteer desk, switchboard and the main entrance info desk, as well as on the website – https://gbgh.on.ca/join-our-teams/volunteer-association/
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Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Communications Officer, GBGH
705-526-1300 ext 5177
MooreJen@gbgh.on.ca
About GBGH:
Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is a 105-bed acute care community hospital located in Midland, Ontario. The hospital offers emergency, ambulatory, acute, intensive and complex continuing care, as well as imaging, dialysis, obstetrical and rehabilitation services. GBGH serves the areas of Midland, Penetanguishene, Christian Island as well as Tay, Tiny, Springwater and Georgian Bay Townships.