BLYN — The Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild has given more than $27,000 in gifts and donations to the Dungeness Valley Health & Wellness Clinic, the School of Nursing at Peninsula College and Olympic Medical Center.
The money was raised by the guild through sales at its thrift shop, a secondhand store at 204 W. Bell St.
The guild has been donating to area medical organizations for more than 40 years.
“We are very near the $2 million mark in donations, since the 1970s, back to Clallam County,” said Addie Curtis, Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild publicity chair.
Fire district support
The guild also supports Clallam County Fire District No. 3 and its paramedic program with equipment, services and scholarship assistance.
Representatives from the three organizations that received donations this year were on hand Thursday to formally accept the gifts during the guild’s annual luncheon and fashion show at 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn.
About 165 people attended the luncheon, during which volunteers modeled clothing available for purchase at the thrift shop.
“This is a really big event,” Curtis said.
Funds designated
The guild donated $5,538 to the hospital, which will be used to purchase two crash carts for the neonatal department and a balanced shuttle for the physical therapy department.
A crash cart holds emergency medications and equipment used when sick or premature infants have medical emergencies.
The balanced shuttle helps patients with mobility issues exercise during physical therapy sessions.
The School of Nursing was given $7,000 to be used in its education programs.
The Dungeness Valley Health & Wellness Clinic — a free nonprofit clinic located at 777 N. Fifth Ave., Suite 109 — received $15,000.
Locally referred to as the Sequim free clinic, the health and wellness clinic is entirely supported by community volunteers and donations from individuals, patients, local businesses, foundations and the city of Sequim.
Volunteer physicians, nursing and support staff at the clinic provide basic urgent care services to uninsured and underinsured men and women in the community.
By appointment
Additionally, patients who have chronic health care issues can be seen by appointment several times a week.
The guild has about 90 members who are required to work at the thrift shop at least twice a month.
The shop is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information about the thrift shop or to volunteer or donate items to sell there, phone 360-683-7044.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
