Staff
The Rainycrest Auxiliary will celebrate its 60th anniversary next Wednesday (Oct. 2) with a tea from 2-3:30 p.m.—and all are welcome to attend.
Admission is $4 and annual memberships will be available for $5.
There will be a variety of delicious home baking for purchase in the Activation Room, in addition to numerous draws, a lotto table, and, of course, yummy sandwiches, dainties, tea, and coffee for all.
Tickets for the auxiliary’s quilt raffle also will be for sale and a “mile of coins” box will be out for anyone who wants to donate their spare change.
“The staff at Rainycrest work very hard but can always do with some extra helping hands,” said auxiliary member Margaret Ann Hudson.
“What is especially important as an auxiliary member is that we can interact with residents, which is very special,” she stressed.
Hudson said the auxiliary’s membership totals almost 140 presently, but they always are looking for new members.
Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month in the Activation Room at Rainycrest.
“However, we want to assure you that if indeed you are not a ‘meeting’ person, we would still hope that you would become a member and donate a few hours of your precious time to the important residents of Rainycrest,” Hudson urged.
Of the 139 auxiliary members, Hudson noted three recently became residents of Rainycrest themselves—Kay Latonas, Ann Anderson, and Helen Neurinski.
At a recent meeting, Neurinski thanked the members for the gift she received when she became a resident while Anderson made a special remark about her coming to live at Rainycrest.
“She has been an auxiliary member for 28 years and she said she feels at this time in her life, Rainycrest is a wonderful place to be,” Hudson recounted.
“[She] is now reaping the benefits of the many years of work that everyone has put in to making Rainycrest the great place it is now.”
Hudson, who recently browsed through past minutes of the Rainycrest auxiliary, discovered many interesting facts about the group.
Founded in 1953, the auxiliary held its first tea that year, which brought in $247.42 that was used to purchase dish cloths for the kitchen and face cloths for the residents.
In 1966, profits from the tea rose to $471. Along with some other needed items, the auxiliary purchased two new teapots for the home.
“It was so interesting reading the names of the ladies who were part of the auxiliary through the years, as well as names of so many Fort Frances organizations who have helped providing sandwiches and dainties for our tea,” Hudson exclaimed.
She added the names were familiar ones, citing Lerman, Noden, Zub, McQuarrie, Cornell, Wall, Gillon, Hemmens, Walkey, Langtry, Cumming, Lyons, Gadd, Cuthbertson, Wepruk, Herrem, Andrusco, and Dolyny—to name just a few.
“The local business community supported our efforts, and in 1974 Fort Floral started donating flowers to a resident on their birthday and they do so to this day,” Hudson said.
“Other recognized names helping out the auxiliary were Betty’s, Ernie Thompson, Brockie’s, and Murray’s,” she added, noting all the churches were mentioned, as well as the Legion and Beta Sigma Phi helping out with special occasions.
Hudson said the auxiliary has a long list of donations it has been able to provide to Rainycrest and the residents.
“During the years we sold Nevada tickets, our first capital project was a 1993 Dodge van with a wheelchair lift for $25,000,” she recalled.
The auxiliary also has purchased sound systems, large TVs with cordless microphones, CD players, chairs, screen savers with waterfalls, blanket warmers, a beautiful fountain in the entryway, a bathing system (tub and lift), a warming oven, trays, an amazing food processor, electric beds and mattresses, and furniture and drapes for the rooms.
“Our purchases are made in sync with Rainycrest administration,” Hudson noted.
She added the Activation Department at Rainycrest helps the auxiliary with many of its activities and projects with the residents.
“Should you wish to make a donation in memory of a loved one, we assure you that all monies received payable to Rainycrest Auxiliary are put to specific useful items in co-operation with Rainycrest administration,” Hudson stressed.
“We sincerely hope that folks will come out and support the work of the auxiliary as we strive to increase and improve our pleasant duties at Rainycrest,” Hudson added.
“The residents are always so very appreciative of anything that is done for them—be it a friendly visit, attending their birthday or welcome party, help at Bingo games, music at dances, helping with crafts and, of course, the tuck shop in Mill Square,” she noted.
