Out with the old and in with the new — that’s what happening at this year’s Saanich Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary Bazaar with the introduction of the new gingerbread village.
“The gingerbread village will take the place of the Christmas puddings we used to do each year,” explained Auxiliary member Enid Burns.
“The puddings were great and they had a good run but when we had brainstorming sessions regarding this year’s bazaar we came up with the idea of gingerbread houses and gingerbread men and it just took off.”
The gingerbread men and houses will be sold as both fully assembled and decorated or unassembled and undecorated in a do-it-yourself kit. All the gingerbread is being baked by Auxiliary volunteers as well as the kits being assembled by them too.
“The gingerbread house kits will be selling for $15 and the fully assembled gingerbread houses for $25,” said Burns.
The Auxiliary, which is made up of 115 volunteers, has been actively serving Saanich Peninsula Hospital since 1974 and in that time has donated over $1.5 million to the foundation.
Much of that money has come from small fundraising initiatives like the bazaar, as well as bake sales, garage sales and of course the Auxiliary gift shop (which expanded earlier this year.)
“Over a million dollars is a lot to raise through small initiatives and hands on volunteering work,” noted Burns.
In addition to fundraising, the Auxiliary also provides services within the hospital designed to aid patient care and comfort, like special birthday parties for extended care residents, support for the Volunteen Group and the provision of public relations and receptionist services to the Mobile Screening Mammography Clinic.
This year, the Auxiliary’s Christmas bazaar takes place on Nov. 16 at the Mary Winspear Centre from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event will feature hand made items such as knitting, baking, crafts, jams and art as well as raffle tickets for prizes like a one night stay at the Sidney Pier Hotel and a cash prize of $500.
“We always have wonderful support from people who come each year so we hope to see them out again as well as new faces,” said Burns.