The Nanaimo Hospital Auxiliary's craft group is marking its 125th anniversary with a celebratory two-day craft sale.
The holiday craft sale will be Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-29 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. both days, plus during the hospital tree lighting on Nov. 28 at 5:30 p.m.
Beginning as a craft and baking group in 1900, the auxiliary evolved over the years to manage a gift shop, thrift store and hospital staff 50/50, all contributing toward raising money for medical services and patient care in the community.
"We started as doctors' wives and women in the community, 125 years ago, because they knew there were blankets needed for babies, and [that] something extra that was needed in the days when health care had a completely different face to what it has now," said Marlene Bell, auxiliary president. "It has gone on with us getting bigger and bigger, but our mandate was still care and comfort items. Things that the government don't consider important."
In 1980 the hospital gift store was added, and in 2005 the thrift store joined the fold, which has since become the largest money-maker for the non-profit.
"We were at another store in this complex ... then we outgrew that," Bell said.
The thrift store's success can't be understated, and earlier this year, the auxiliary presented the largest cheque in the organization's history to the hospital, a record $1 million, in addition to $250,000 for the B.C. Cancer centre currently under construction. Bell said the auxiliary anticipates an even bigger donation in 2026.
Despite this success, the president said the group is still, at its heart, "the little old ladies slugging away for the auxiliary."
The auxiliary remains a non-profit powered almost entirely by volunteers, save a cleaner and accountant, and while craft sales are no longer the top fundraisers, volunteers are still ready with their knitting needles in hand to fulfill that original mission one quilt at a time.
At present, the craft group numbers about 30 members.
"They just do the crafts at their own home," Bell said. "They're a lovely group of ladies and they supply a lot to the [neonatal intensive care unit]."
One of the crafters, Joanna Farr, said the group usually hold two annual sales, but decided to do an extra sale to celebrate the 125th anniversary.
"We will be doing Christmas things, so we will have a lot of Christmas placemats, we will have a lot of quilts, not necessarily Christmas quilts, we have women that knit baby sweaters and other sweaters, they will be there, we have women who make things that you can give for Christmas."
Farr joined the craft group about two years ago after wanting to do something that in retirement that she could do on her own schedule.
"I think you would say most of ... the women who join join because we quilt, we sew, we knit..." Farr said. "I think it's a combination of loving to do those things, but also wanting to give back to the community."
Beyond making crafts to sell, the group creates dolls and blankets for patients and families at the hospital. The crafters can improve the experience for patients by making items including IV wraps and surgery dolls for paediatrics, tiny mitts and tuques for perinatal care, lap quilts and blankets for the renal unit, cancer unit and neonatal intensive care unit.
"We're a small group and we don't do huge things, but we are a very key piece, I guess I would say," Farr said.
Those who are interested in joining the craft group are asked to call 250-585-0409, or e-mail info@nrghauxiliary.ca.