Home »
KHCA celebrating 70 years of helping
Part 2
Submitted by Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary
By 1967 the Kimberley Health Auxiliary (KHA) had a Thrift Shop. The first location was in the “Fine Bakery” building on Wallinger Avenue across from the Bil-Co. They canvassed for donations and opened up from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tuesdays –Saturdays. Deft fingers sewed pink smocks for the volunteer workers and when dolls were donated they sewed clothing for them, too!
In 1969 “Diversional Therapy,” in the form of doing crafts, was offered to the patients.
In August of 1970 the Thrift Shop was moved from 475 Wallinger to 140 Spokane Street next to Bill’s TV. Some of the prices at that time were 25 cents for coats or dresses or 5/$1.00. An electric stove was $10, skis for $1, sink and chrome taps $1.95, treadle sewing machine $12, and a single bed and springs for $5.
By 1971 the membership was up to 1,249! Some of the local businesses such as Laura’s, Woogman’s, Kimberley Drug and Book, Norm’s Pharmacy, Cominco, Mae’s Gift Shop, Delamont Jewellers, and Kenneman’s Shoe Shop were contributing to the Thrift Shop.
The sewing committee was producing up to 20,000 articles such as infant diapers, wrappers, receiving blankets, caps, plus Doctor gowns, scrub suits, pillow cases, sheets, bed spreads, mattress envelopes, towels, volunteer smocks, Candy Striper uniforms, and seasonal placemats for patient trays!
One of the original members, Mrs. Daisy Lockhart passed away in 1975. For 20 years she’d been the driving force behind the sewing committee which saved the Hospital Board many thousands of dollars. As an aside, she had also, single handedly, sewn all the uniforms for the Rotary High School Band formed under Ralph Yarwood.
By 1980, with 1,649 members, the Kimberley Hospital Auxiliary was the largest in B.C. and was honoured with a meritorious certificate from the Honourable Rafe Mair recognizing outstanding volunteer service towards the care and comfort of hospital patients.
One of many, many examples of caring for the patients was when Louanne Sanderson took ECU patients on several outings such as to Marysville for lunch, a trip to St. Mary’s Lake, or lunches outside on the lawn, or a barbecue with the Candy Stripers.
The women found more ways to raise money by selling cookbooks and setting up a Christmas Greeting Column in the local paper for a donation. Some made afghans for the ECU.
The Thrift Shop had become a big money maker for the auxiliary and moved again in 1985 to the former site of Laura’s Dress Shop at 130 Deer Park Avenue.
That same year Melody Motors donated 10 infant seats so the KHA set up and ran a rental programme for new parents. In addition, the Auxiliary opened a new gift shop in the lobby of the hospital selling artificial flowers, slippers, baby clothes, toys, handmade Cabbage Patch clothes, chocolate bars, and gum.
In December, a new Palliative Care Room was set up with funds from family and friends in memory of Dr. Johnson’s daughter Jenny Anderson.
Still going in its 40th year the KHA donated $10,000 for a CAT scan, had the ECU kitchen renovated, ran Bingo, and even dressed up and entered a beautiful float in the 1993 parade! They continued this community involvement for several years often winning first place for a club float, or first for best-dressed walking group, and even first place overall!
Starting in 1996 the Auxiliary began purchasing new, modern, electric beds for extended care and continued to do so as the need arose.
By 2001 the hospital was badly in need of new x-ray equipment so the KHA began a big fund raising push to raise and donate $150,000, half the cost of this new machine.
January 2002 saw the thrift shop on the move again. It moved next door into the old Union Building on Howard Street where they are to this day but now owners not renters.
Then on April 22, 2002 the Kimberley Hospital closed its doors after the new Interior Health Authority restructured the delivery of health care in this region. The IHA honoured a request by the KHA that the equipment they’d purchased go to the Pines and Kimberley Home Support and the rest was to stay in the East Kootenay.
Because the building officially became the property of the City of Kimberley, the KHA changed its name to the Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary- KHCA on December 31, 2002.
Part three will be published soon.
Lead image: Kimberley Hospital is now the Kimberley Health Centre. e-KNOW file photo
