SEQUIM — Local health agencies will be able to train more nurses, provide free treatment and improve scanning of bed-bound patients thanks to $32,406 in donations from the Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild.
The money — profits from the guild’s thrift shop at the corner of Second Avenue and Bell Street — was donated to Olympic Medical Center’s imaging department, Peninsula College’s School of Nursing and the Dungeness Valley Health and Wellness Clinic during ceremonies at the guild’s annual fashion show luncheon at 7 Cedars Casino on Thursday.
Since its founding in 1970, the Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild has donated more than $1.96 million to community health organizations.
“We look forward to being a continuing service to the community,” said Jean Janis, guild board president.
“And with your help, we can continue to do that.”
Red carpet fashions
Unique designs from the thrift shop were displayed in a fashion show.
Guild members strutted the Club Seven stage and through the crowd of 170 in outfits assembled off the thrift store racks.
The top recipient this year was the Dungeness Valley Health and Wellness Clinic, which was granted $15,000 from the guild.
“Thank you for making what we do possible,” said Audrey Gift, clinic board president.
Gift said the clinic at 777 N. Fifth Ave. treated more than 2,000 people last year.
The free clinic, which opens at 5 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, also gave its patients more than $200,000 in free medications donated by pharmaceutical companies, Gift said.
Patient Lift funded
OMC received $10,406 from the guild to purchase a ceiling-mounted device that lifts patients from their beds.
John Troglia, director of diagnostic imaging at the Port Angeles-based hospital, said the lift will be used to help scan the bodies of patients who have difficulty getting out of bed.
“It’s a great improvement for our facility, our patients and our staff,” Troglia said.
‘Over the top’
This year’s donation from the guild to Peninsula College’s School of Nursing of $7,000 was the biggest the guild has granted the school, Janis said.
“All I can say is wow,” said Mary Hunchberger, executive director of the Peninsula College Foundation and College Advancement.
“This is just over the top.”
The donation will go toward tuition costs for nursing students.
Volunteer honored
Special recognition was made at Thursday’s luncheon for Rebecca Zander, who has volunteered in many capacities at the thrift shop for the past 23 years and who continued to work as she survived breast cancer.
Officers were elected for the guild board. In addition to Janis as president, board members are Vice President Bobbie Rhodes, Secretary Jan Keithly, Treasurer Debbie Kahle and thrift shop chairwoman Mary Nesbitt.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
