News
Editorial: Making a difference
Scott Wagar
11/20/2012
Dr. William J. Mayo once stated this about Mayo Clinic, “We have never been allowed to lose sight of the fact that the main purpose to be served by the Clinic is the care of the sick.”
His brother, Dr. Charles Mayo, added these words of wisdom in how medicine and Mayo Clinic should be supported, “When you want support for public health measures you have to educate the people. When you start to educate the people you should begin with the women because they will fight for the health of their children.”
Here in Bottineau, we have a group of women who are true paradigms to the words of the Mayo brothers, The St. Andrew Hospital Auxiliary, which is made up of a group of women who have many goals for the medical facility. However, one of their top priorities during the holiday season is to assist the hospital financially in getting medical items that are needed by each department in the care center.
The auxiliary does this through their Holly House Bazaar, which is a craft and bake sale that raises money specifically for the employees of the hospital to improve their departments.
Each year during the Christmas Season, the auxiliary staff goes to each department in the hospital and gives the staff members the opportunity to write down on a piece of paper (known as the “Wish List”) what they would like within their department. From there, the auxiliary raises money through the Holly House Bazaar and makes every attempt to purchase the items that are needed for each medical department.
An example of this is that one year the nursing department asked for a swing lift, which the ladies auxiliary was able to purchase for the nurses, which assisted them in their job and the care they give to their patients.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of departments inside St. Andrew’s and only so much money to go around. So, for this to work, the community has to come together and support the Holly House Bazaar so the auxiliary “Wish List” can become a reality for the hospital employees.
The Holly House Bazaar will take place this year on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the hospital’s cafeteria and the general public is welcome to participate in the craft and bake sale.
The auxiliary will be serving its guests (at the cost of the auxiliary) carmel rolls, coffee, tea and hot chocolate during the craft and bake sale, which will have a variety of unique baked goods and crafts that will meet the needs of everyone.
Adding to the event will be two raffle drawings, which will include a Samsung 40” HDTV and a Hardanger Doll/Wall hanging.
In the true sense of the Mayo brothers’ words, caring for the sick in a community should be the main purpose in every resident’s heart. And, personally, to do that you must depend on the women of your community to get it done, because they not only hold the hearts of the town’s children in their souls, but also for every person in their hometown village who is need of medical assistance.
For Bottineau, we are very fortunate to have St. Andrew’s ladies auxiliary because they are a strong group of women who have hearts as pure as a warm, summer day in the Dakotas. They are tremendous in caring for the sick in the hospital, providing entertainment and raising money for the hospital.
To me, it is important that the surrounding area supports the Holly House Bazaar because not only does the bazaar assist the staff of St. Andrew’s, but it supports us, as a community, too. Without the auxiliary, and the money they raise, St. Andrew’s wouldn’t have some of the equipment it does to assist the community members when they are using the hospital’s services.
So, please consider attending the auxiliary’s bazaar because in doing so you assist our local hospital in making it a better place to care for all of us in our time of need.
The Holly House Bazaar starts at 10 a.m. and goes to 2 p.m. So, bring an appetite, bring lots of money and bring the Christmas Spirit of giving. Let’s make sure that the Ladies Auxiliary can fulfill their “Wish List” for the hospital staff members.