ESTEVAN — The St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation has announced the total raised through the Festival of Trees weekend in November.
This year, with the support of the community, the foundation was able to attract over $150,000 for the needs of the local hospital.
Foundation executive director Lori Gervais said "These funds will make a huge difference at our hospital," and thanked everyone who supported their effort in any way.
"How overwhelming and amazing are the community, all our sponsors and donors. We couldn't do what we do without everyone's help, especially our volunteers – the volunteers who show up are quite fantastic – and the community. So again, thank you to everyone," Gervais said.
This year's total was on par with last year's, and Gervais was happy to say they were at the same net income this year even with participation numbers down, but expenses as well.
"The silent auction, the live auction, people are always generous and things sold at fantastic numbers. So even though there were fewer people, there was still lots of money spent, which is always fantastic," Gervais said.
She noted that it seemed that all the various options people had to support the hospital through the gala were popular with the crowd.
"This year, things did sell very well. … The handmade things are always good. Dennis Gonas' rocking horse is something that is so beautiful that you know people are going to be interested in it. And my husband [Tim Gervais] has been making things for [the festival], he gets pretty creative, and people are interested in stuff like that," Gervais said.
"And the big-ticket items and anything that we can have donated, that's not costing us money, is fantastic, especially when it comes to smokers and barbecues and black stones and recliners, Brand Source gave us an awesome recliner. The big stuff is great to have donated, it helps my bottom line for sure."
Every year, St. Joseph's Hospital comes with equipment requests, organized by what's most needed. The foundation takes that list of the most important upgrades to its board, which decides on where the money gets spent.
"As of right now, Festival of Trees goes into the pot of whatever is most needed. And that will continue to be the equipment in the hospital," Gervais said. "But as most of you know, we're probably going to be moving towards doing some fundraising for an MRI machine as well … Our general donations are available for whatever is the most needed, and if the MRI is what's most needed at that time, then definitely we will contribute towards that."
