Story by Kerri Robins; Photo by Pam Vamplew, Volunteer Resources Coordinator for the Crowsnest Pass and Pincher Creek Health Centres
CARDSTON — All volunteers rock, but the one who rocks the hardest could well be 91-year-old Reeva Wilde, who joined Cardston Hospital Auxiliary half a century ago.
“Reeva Wilde is receiving her 50-year service pin this year and we couldn’t be happier to honour her and some of the other ladies at our “Volunteers Rock” luncheon,” says Carrie Bust, Coordinator of Volunteer Services at Cardston Health Centre. “It’s perfect timing given that April 12-18 is National Volunteer Week.”
Still on the auxiliary committee with no plans to quit, Wilde finds herself among long-time members now being celebrated for their hard work over the years.
“I like being around and keeping track of what’s going on — just staying on top of it all,” says Wilde, who attended the first auxiliary meeting ever held on Oct. 28, 1964.
Over the years, Wilde has served in a number of positions, from member to president. During her time as president, she helped the health centre to purchase six special mattress pads that afford pressure relief and prevent bed sores for long-term care residents.
“These ladies are amazing and put in a lot of volunteer hours for us,” says Cynthia Baker, Nurse Manager at the health centre as well as a board member with the Cardston and District Health Foundation. “We truly appreciate all their efforts helping us provide care to our patients. We couldn’t do it without them.”
The “gals” are certainly busy supporting their health-care centre. “Whether it’s filling Christmas stockings for newborns, or making holiday decorations for our long-term care residents, these ladies really rock,” says Bust.
In addition to knitting and decorating, the ladies also operate the health centre gift shop.
There are many auxiliaries around Alberta, each with its own inspirational history. Last year, some 1,700 AHS volunteers freely contributed more than 114,000 hours of their time to health care centres across southern Alberta.
While auxiliaries typically comprised only women in the past, today many more men are joining up.
Wilde and her counterparts on the auxiliary received their service pin awards at the Volunteers Rock luncheon held in their honour on Apr. 13.
Wilde, an avid gardener at home, says as she laughs: “I’m not sure why I’m still working at this point really. It’s the ladies that make me stay — I like them all so much.”
If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact a volunteer resources co-ordinator at a health care facility in your community, or register online at http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/10841.asp
For more information, please visit Foundations & Health Trusts.
