The Auxiliary Society for Comox Valley Healthcare (formerly St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary) has embarked on an exciting adventure.  It started with a new name and logo, reflecting the Comox Valley’s transfer of acute care services to a new hospital in October 2017. The tagline “Helping Hands Healing Hearts” affirms our commitment to enhancing patient care and comfort in our community. The colours, matching those of the BC Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries, represent our province’s waters and forests.

The adventure continued into mid-September as the hospital Gift Shop closed its doors to prepare for the move to its new home in the North Island Hospital Comox Valley.  As you’ll no doubt appreciate, this was a large undertaking that involved specialty packing materials and the moving of personnel. The challenge was met with enthusiasm by a dedicated team of hardworking Auxiliary members, whose contribution is greatly appreciated.

Newly named, The Valley Gift Shop boasts a wonderful selection of jewelry, clothing, flowers and gifts. Naturally, they will also offer a selection of snacks and necessities that hospital patients and visitors have come to expect. The shop is a smaller space than what we’ve had, but it will be filled with bright new concepts and products. Rocky Mountain Chocolates will stock their specialties, and flowers will be provided by Thrifty Foods.

One phase of this adventure included Auxiliary members taking on the Island Health online learning modules. Each persevered through glitches, hiccups and system issues to complete approximately 15 hours of training. This was not a minor feat for some members, but their dedication and commitment to volunteering in our new gift shop drove them to success!

We are proud of our Auxiliary and its efforts to date, and we are looking forward to what comes next along the path of this adventure.

(Submitted by the Auxiliary Society for Comox Valley Healthcare)