The intensive care unit (ICU) at the St. Joseph's Hospital will be seeing upgrades to equipment following donations by the hospital's auxiliary.
On Dec. 4, the St. Joseph's Health Care Auxiliary presented the hospital with another $15,000 to put toward the equipment that will cost about $90,000. The donation gets the funds raised to the midway point of $45,000.
The money will be used to refurbish three beds, tables and overhead monitors for the ICU.
"We're really happy to be able to do it," said Nola Joseph, auxiliary co-president.
The auxiliary has been fundraising for the past year to purchase this new equipment, which Joseph noted will completely replace the old equipment.
"These (new beds) raise up and down, and they're just so handy for the client as well as the nursing staff," she said. "It's state-of-the-art equipment for them, the same as the monitors. Those things wear out, and you can't repair what's there. It has to be bought new."
With the recent celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the hospital and the auxiliary, there has been a lot of looking to the past. Joseph made note of how the monetary needs of the hospital have changed over the years.
"When the hospital was built, the sisters came to us and asked for $50,000. We looked at one another, and we said, 'Oh my goodness, how can we raise $50,000?' Well, $50,000 now is just a drop in the plate, and it's through the generosity of the United Way and the community support that we get. It's really spectacular," added Joseph.
The funds were raised through bake sales, as members baked up batches of goodies for sale at the 75th celebration tea, as well as during last week's announcement.
"We're an aging group, but this year we asked them to do two bake sales. Look at the baking. It's just wonderful, the way they stepped up to the plate," said Joseph.
Greg Hoffort, St. Joseph's Hospital executive director, thanked the groups who have worked hard to raise money for donations, so equipment throughout the hospital can remain up to date.
"To my friends at the ladies auxiliary, who we celebrated our 75th anniversaries together last week, I issued a little bit of a challenge to the ladies. I suggested to them, let's keep doing the same things we've been doing for the last 75 years for the next 75 years. Mere days after that they are already keeping up their end of the bargain, so now we have to keep up our end of the bargain, and that is to provide the quality of care that our staff give to our community," Hoffort said in his address.
""You efforts are to be commended. You amaze me and inspire us all at the hospital. You are an amazing part of what we do."
