May 4, 2015
Story by Lisa Peters
As the Valleyview Ladies Hospital Auxiliary celebrates 50 years of service, three charter members reflect on when it started and are recognized for their ongoing dedication to the community.
Eileen Bassarab, 90, is one of the founding members of the Valleyview Ladies Hospital Auxiliary and continues to be an active volunteer. Born and raised in Valleyview, Bassarab says she helped start the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary a year before the Valleyview Healthcare Centre opened because she knew there would be a need for its services.
“At some point in our lives, we are all going to need the services of the hospital so I think it’s important to give back and make it a better place for the patients,” says Bassarab.
Ida Fell, 92, also from Valleyview, is another charter member who is still actively involved in the auxiliary.
“It’s a great satisfaction when you go to the hospital and know that you can help the people there, in one way or another,” says Fell.
Fell was also a hospital board member for 12 years, beginning in 1966.
“My family has always been involved in local health care. My husband was on the hospital board and after he passed in 1966, I was asked to be on the hospital board to step in and fill his shoes. I was also the board chairman for three years and meanwhile, I became the auxiliary’s first president.”
Fell adds that her husband built the first canteen cart that was pushed around the hospital, going from room to room selling snacks and beverages to patients and their families.
“The Auxiliary had 16 candy stripers who worked the canteen cart. They were trained to help out at the hospital and a lot of them went on to be nurses, some of who still work at the hospital today.”
Some of the other things the auxiliary has contributed to the hospital over the past 50 years include televisions for all the patient rooms, furniture, including comfortable chairs and special beds for the patients, and equipment for ambulances. They also contributed funds to the first ever MRI machine bought in Grande Prairie for the QEII Hospital.
But after 50 years of service to the auxiliary, its charter members are looking to retire.
“We are in our 90’s now. It’s getting harder to travel, especially in the winter, and we need to slow down,” says Bassarab. “We feel younger people would do a better job than us. They are more capable.”
Including its third charter member, Margaret Pepper, the auxiliary currently has eight members and is looking to recruit more. And although its official title is the Vallyview Ladies Hospital Auxiliary, Bassarab adds that men are more than welcome to get involved, too.
“It’s important to keep the auxiliary active. It provides a lot of things for the hospital that make a person’s stay there more comfortable,” says Bassarab.
Bassarab says she’s been doing it for 50 years because she likes to be able to help others in needs.
“It’s a privilege, and a very good feeling.”
Ann Martfeld is the local Volunteer Resources co-coordinator with Alberta Health Services (AHS) and can be contacted directly to get involved.
“We have many volunteer opportunities in Valleyview, including getting involved with the auxiliary and, for example, their gift shop. Or a person can volunteer in palliative care, with our continuing care centre or get involved in our pet therapy program. There is something for everyone,” says Martfeld.
Martfeld adds that if someone wants to offer a volunteer service they don’t currently have, that they are always looking at ways to expand their services.
“We have different roles and different volunteer descriptions that we try to work within, but we don’t like to turn people away and are open to new ideas,” says Martfeld. “We welcome compassionate and caring volunteers at any time of the day. Even if someone is just willing to sit with people that are ill, or maybe play cards with them. Sometimes, all a person needs is a warm hand to hold. It really makes a difference and puts a smile on a person’s face. To be able to offer that and help someone is very rewarding.”
Martfeld says the members of the auxiliary have all done a tremendous job.
“The auxiliary and what it offers to people today was all made possible by simple dedication. It’s something that they really believed in and they kept it going,” says Martfeld.
For more information about the ladies auxiliary and volunteer opportunities in Valleyview, contact Martfeld at 780-524-3356.
