ST. PAUL – The St. Paul & District Hospital Foundation is preparing for its annual fundraiser gala on March 11 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the foundation, composed of volunteers from the community, is raising funds to purchase critical medical equipment that would help improve patient care and comfort at the local hospital.
Included in the medical equipment are anesthetic carts for the operating room, portable ultrasound, neonatal resuscitation cart, cardiac monitor, pediatric code card, air mattresses for long-term care, and exercise stress test equipment.
Noreen Brousseau, the chair of the foundation, said that the list of equipment amounts to over $100,000.
Brousseau emphasized the importance of supporting the hospital and its healthcare workers.
"Our mission and our goals are to support our healthcare workers, our doctors, our nurses, and all of the people who are in the hospital to provide the best patient care [they] can," said Brousseau. "We do that by raising money for equipment [the hospital] identified as being very important for patient care and comfort."
Brousseau noted the importance of having a well-equipped hospital in the community. "Without a hospital, you're traveling off to somewhere... and everywhere,” she said. “You need to be able to go to the hospital five minutes away and be seen."
Brousseau also commended the physicians in town, including those who have moved to the community in recent months. “They're awesome, so we need to support them."
“Our business community has also been contacted and donations are coming in as they always do – and we appreciate that so much,” said Brousseau.
In previous years, Brousseau said the gala has sold out, stating that “our community has always been very supportive of this.” The foundation is hoping for an equally successful event this year.
The fundraiser will be an evening of entertainment, delicious food, and silent and live auctions, according to Brousseau, and is also an opportunity to “get together and celebrate our community.”
“It's always fun to support your community and we get to see everybody again,” she said.
The event will be held at the St. Paul Recreation Centre. Tickets are available at the St. Paul Healthcare Centre Administration Office for $65 per ticket or $520 for a table of eight.
