BLYN — The Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild donated $29,660 Wednesday to Sequim’s free medical clinic, Olympic Medical Center and student scholarships in medical fields.
The guild, which raises funds through its thrift shop at Second Avenue and Bell Street, presented the donations at its annual luncheon at 7 Cedars Casino and thanked its more than 100 volunteers who help keep the store in business.
“We really made a tremendous difference in our community,” Jean Janis, guild president, said at the luncheon attended by about 160.
“We’ve had a good year at the shop,” she said.
“Who said the economy was down?”
The guild gave $12,000 to the Dungeness Valley Health & Wellness Clinic, accepted by clinic Director Rose Gibbs, and $12,160 — which includes three gifts for new pieces of health care equipment — to OMC.
Of the guild’s donation to OMC, gifts included $4,927 for a free-standing light-emitting diode phototherapy light, $1,945 to Education Head Start trainers and $5,288 for an ultrasound unit.
The OMC donation was accepted by Angela Graff, director of obstetrics; Lynda Minor, nurse; and Fran Sisson, home health director.
The remaining $4,500 went to two health care education scholarships totaling $3,000 and a third donation of $1,500 to the Peninsula College School of Nursing.
OMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Scott Kennedy, standing in for Chief Executive Officer Eric Lewis, thanked guild members for their generosity.
Contributed to most departments
The guild has contributed to most of the hospital’s departments over the years, he said.
“Sequim is probably the most exciting place for Olympic Medical Center right now,” he said, having most recently added two board-certified orthopedic surgeons available on a daily basis in Sequim, as well as a medical walk-in clinic.
The hospital has been affiliated with Swedish Medical Center in Seattle since Nov. 1.
The other North Olympic Peninsula hospitals — Jefferson Healthcare in Port Townsend and Forks Community — also are affiliated with the Seattle medical center.
Addie Curtis, guild vice president, honored volunteer Shirley Leyman for 35 years of guild service.
“Now that’s a long time,” Curtis said.
Leyman has worked in just about every thrift shop capacity and is a former guild president.
The guild gave Leyman, an avid quilter, a gift certificate to a quilting supply store.
Curtis also thanked Janis for her guild service. The longstanding president has agreed to continue as the guild’s leader for two more years.
Scholarships of $1,500 each went to Julia Ahrendt, seeking a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene at Eastern Washington University, and Donna M. Pairdee, seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing at the Western Governors University, an online university.
In addition to Janis continuing as president, the slate of officers for the coming year are Curtis, vice president; Donna Huswick, secretary; Debbie Kahle, treasurer; and Sue Tondreau, thrift shop chair.
Total donations
The guild, founded in the early 1970s, has contributed almost $1.8 million to the community.
Of that amount, the guild has contributed $595,000 to Clallam County Fire District No. 3 and $672,257 to OMC.
Peninsula College School of Nursing has received $51,500 from the guild, and the Dungeness Valley Health & Wellness Clinic has received $49,000.
Student scholarships in medical fields have totaled $434,425.
Those attending the luncheon included Steve Vogel, chief of Clallam County Fire District No. 3, which has received a number of guild donations in the past.
Guild members involved in organizing the luncheon were Shari Miller, who handled the menu and other details; and Bobbie Richards, the fashion show chairwoman, and her models Cletis Dietz, Pennie Dickin, Dianne McIntosh, Mary Nesbitt, Virginia Peter and Nina Sweet.
Donna Huswick chaired the silent auction.
Home Depot gave the guild a 50 percent discount for plants used in the 29 luncheon table pieces.
__________
Sequim-Dungeness Valley Reporter Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2390 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
