EVANSTON: The Strait Richmond Hospital Foundation wants people to know that until the foundation’s new website is running early next year, donations for their upcoming 20th Annual Lights for Life Campaign can be made through the mail, or in person at the hospital.
Fundraising Coordinator of the Strait Richmond Hospital Foundation, Aurine Richard, told The Reporter when money comes to the hospital, “it can’t be accepted at administration it has to come here.”
As the financial arm of the hospital the foundation does everything from covering the costs of the newly finished $1.7 million construction project the hospital overtook, to purchasing things like a new water and ice machine.
Recently the foundation partnered with the palliative care society and purchased two new cuddle beds.
Richard said this year’s focus for the fundraising campaign is to help pay for their $56,000 investment.
“So that’s what we’re still doing is fundraising for that and I heard people were impressed by it so that’s good,” Richard said. “If the hospital needs something and we can afford to do it, then we do it.”
For years the office for the foundation was always in the basement of the hospital, but she highlighted now that renovations are completed and COVID is in a better state, they have moved upstairs.
“So now we’re much more visible and much more accessible,” Richard said. “And I have to say I love my new office.”
Around mid-November the foundation will be sending out their Lights for Life Campaign newsletter, asking people for their Christmas gift to the hospital.
“That’s basically what it is,” Richard said. “And making people aware that they can donate while they’re here or able to do it through the mail.”
The hospital’s annual tree lighting ceremony takes place on Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. and any community member is invited to join the foundation’s members and hospital staff. This year the ceremony has a new twist and takes place in the back of the hospital, which she said will be better for the patients.
“It’s good because we’ll have direct access to the building through the cafeteria section, so regardless of the weather we’ll be able to carry out the function and event,” Richard said. “And this new way of having the lights visible in the back, then they will be able to be seen by the patients that are on the actual nursing unit.”
Looking forward, the foundation is launching a website which should be up and running early next year. Among many uses the website will enable people to donate online, which she said will make things easier.
“I feel that the foundation has come a long, long way from where it was 43 years ago and I’m very happy I was able to help contribute to that and I’m looking forward to having a few more years of working with the foundation,” Richard said. “I think that we’ve certainly made ourselves visible and that we’ve done a lot of good work for the hospital. And we’ve bought a lot of equipment for this hospital, now people know who we are and where we are.”