Heather Latter
The “Spirit of Christmas” will be back again—this time in the hands of the La Verendrye Hospital Auxiliary.
“It’s such a great fundraiser and it’s always been so elegantly done that we’re really pleased to be sponsoring it this year,” noted auxiliary president Irene Laing.
“It has had many different people look after it over the years [and] it’s our turn,” echoed auxiliary member Monica Sus, who will be heading up the popular fundraiser.
Originally started here in 1995, the “Spirit of Christmas” ran as a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society and Fort Frances Community Chest until 2008.
It was revived in 2012 by the Rainy River District Breast Health Network, but only was held the one year to help fund the group’s pledge to the “Together We Can” campaign for the new digital mammography unit at La Verendrye Hospital here.
Laing said the idea to bring the fundraiser back once again came up in conversation this summer with her sister, who also is a member of the hospital auxiliary.
“We were talking about what we could do as a fundraiser that wasn’t ticket selling,” she explained.
“And she said, ‘Why don’t we try the ‘Spirit of Christmas?’”
The pair brought it up at an auxiliary meeting and Sus agreed to head the fundraiser as she helped out with the event in the past as part of the Community Chest.
“In the past several years, we’ve done a lot of our fundraising through ticket sales,” Laing noted.
“We’ve done the Christmas cash draw [and] two years in a row we’ve done the boat tickets [in conjunction with the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship].
“And as much as those have been really, really successful, it calls for a lot of work on behalf of our members and a lot of people do not like selling tickets,” Laing said.
“So this gives us an opportunity to do something totally different, and to call on some of our members who are crafters and who like getting behind something like this.
“For us, it might seem like it’s a lot of fundraising,” she added.
“But that’s what we’re here for—to supplement the capital equipment for this hospital.”
“When you go into one of the [hospital] rooms, it’s us who probably bought the mattress on your bed, it’s us who probably bought the TV that you’re using,” Sus said.
“I don’t think the general public realizes just want we provide,” she stressed.
“We’ve bought everything from equipment to things that make your [hospital] stay more comfortable.”
Laing and Sus are looking forward to the “Spirit of Christmas” as a new way for the auxiliary to raise funds.
The event is planned for Sunday, Nov. 20 at La Place Rendez-Vous, although the time still is being discussed to ensure it doesn’t conflict with other ones possibly going on.
Right now, the group is just starting to plan the event, which is described as a large silent auction offered with refreshments.
“We want people to let us know if they have something available that they would like to donate,” said Sus, adding the items should be somewhat Christmas related but don’t have to be “Christmassy.”
For instance, some of the items might be Christmas decorations but others might be given as Christmas gifts.
Sus is expecting to see Christmas wreaths, stained glass, and quilts but stressed it doesn’t have to be all crafted items.
They’ll also be looking for gift certificates for food items like cabbage rolls, perogies, or baking—or even for services such as from a hair salon.
The items can be donated by individuals as well as local businesses.
Sus already has phoned some people to ask for donations and all were very enthusiastic.
“I’ve got a good response,” she enthused. “But there may be people I don’t know about who would like to donate.
“There are always new people doing new things.”
“You get all kinds of items,” noted Laing. “Big items, small items, and unique things.
“It’s just so wonderful to see the creativity of people,” she added. “I’m always just so impressed.
“And Fort Frances is just such a generous community.”
Laing said arrangements can be made to pick up items or they can be dropped off at the hospital gift shop on Monday to Friday from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Sus (274-7043 or 271-2839) or Laing (274-9560).
