By Erin Hawkins
Olympic Peninsula News Group
SEQUIM — The Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild has presented a $17,039 check to representatives of Clallam County Fire District 3.
The presentation to the Sequim Fire Department was made during the guild’s annual Christmas appreciation luncheon Thursday in the community hall of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
The check was presented to Fire Chief Ben Andrews, Fire Commissioner James Barnfather and Fire District Secretary Pattie Williams.
The money will pay for an auto-pulse machine, a mechanical device that performs CPR compressions.
For more than 20 years, the Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild has held this appreciation luncheon to give its annual gift to Fire District 3.
Adeline Curtis, publicity chairman of the guild, said the luncheon is also “our way of saying thank you to all our workers.”
An auto-pulse machine was on Fire District 3’s “wish list” that it submits to the guild every September.
Andrews said this machine is beneficial for firefighters and emergency medical technicians because “it’s a more consistent way to perform CPR” and frees up an EMT that might be performing manual chest compressions so he or she is able to do other tasks.
After the check was presented at noon to Fire District 3, a potluck-style luncheon was served with food brought in by guild members and turkey donated by Sunny Farms.
The event concluded with the Sequim High School Select Choir performing for the crowd, starting with patriotic songs and ending with such Christmas classics as “Carol of the Bells.”
The SHS choir also received a $200 donation.
The Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild was formed in 1970 and consists of three divisions including membership dues, memorials and donations, Cards for Cardiacs and a thrift shop located on West Bell Street in Sequim.
All of the income generated from these three branches is donated to meet the needs of health and medical organizations in the community, such as Fire District 3, Olympic Medical Center, the Sequim-Dungeness Health &Wellness Clinic, Helipad, and scholarships to local students studying in medical-related fields.
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Erin Hawkins is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach her at ehawkins@sequimgazette.com.
