May
25
by Conni Attwell
Recently I became a volunteer with the Beckley Farm Lodge Auxiliary and today I got my official blue t-shirt. What a great group of ladies they are (men, where are you?), and our monthly meetings are an enjoyable exercise in how to raise funds and then spend the money raised on needed extras for the residents and day-care clients of the Lodge.
Dorothy Adam helped restart the auxiliary in 1997 and has been Chairperson since 1998. She conducts the meetings with such good humour from beginning to end that much is accomplished in as little as 1½ hours. It would be impossible to list the many extras that have been funded by the Auxiliary for the enhancement of the residents and day-care clients, but, they sure have been appreciated by the residents and their families.
The most recent items purchased have been: garden furniture, special-need lifts, and six CD players. The current project is audio/visual equipment for the multi-purpose room, which will add enjoyment for special events, etc.
The Auxiliary workers are hard-working at all events as well as raising funds through the Thrifty's Smile Card programme (very helpful and since you are spending money anyway, why not? Dorothy Adam would appreciate you personally contacting her for this at 250-386-9923). We also work hard at pricing, setting up and selling good, used items at the Spring Garage sale, knitting, crafting, baking for the Annual Craft sale and; at Christmas, we fund, plan and wrap individual gifts for the good folks who live at Beckley Farm Lodge.
Since it is now June, here is a plug for the next event - the Victorian Tea on June 26th with a fashion show by the Royal Victorian Heritage Fashion Society. Having tea from fine china teacups, plus little sandwiches and delicacies served by the auxiliary, and WITH entertainment, is very popular, so tickets for this event sell out quickly. Seating is limited to make it special, so make sure you get your ticket as soon as you can (see ad in this paper).
Another event planned for August is the Family and Residents Hot Dog Day, enjoyed by the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of some of the residents, and of course the ladies of the auxiliary will be there to socialize and help where needed.
Thank you Dorothy, Joyce, Eileen, Lorraine, Sandi, June S., Florence, Dorri, Margaret, Lou-Ann, June B., and Anne. It is a real pleasure to be part of this hard-working group of ladies, but, mind you, thinking of all that hard work is making me tired already! I wonder how long I will be able to keep it up?