In order to purchase new equipment, the Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) is in dire need of fundraising. Funds from the provincial government cover operating costs such as staff salaries and utilities.
Here, the Timmins and District Hospital Foundation (TADHF) works full time to raise money for new equipment throughout the hospital and relies on organizations and individuals to support their fundraiser and donate.
The Schumacher Lions Club recently donated $50,000 to TADHF.
“We are a district hospital,” said Jason Laneville, executive director of TADHF. “We serve many different communities in northeastern Ontario and everyone is involved. Our district services are used throughout the northeast and it is important that all communities get involved.”
“We are very fortunate that donors like the Lions Club support us with donations.”
Hospital statistics available on the foundation’s website show that TADH is a busy facility. Annually, the hospital sees more than 40,000 emergency room visits, performs about 5,000 surgeries and 75,000 diagnostic tests, and delivers 730 babies. Its catchment area stretches from the James Bay coast in the north to Englehart in the south, from Chapleau in the west to the Quebec border in the east. It is also common for patients to be referred to TADH from as far away as Sudbury and even western Quebec for services such as an MRI because the waiting list is shorter than in their own communities.
The donations will go to the hospital for its most urgent needs in the areas of equipment, maintenance and renovation.
“Every piece of equipment has a limited lifespan and needs to be replaced,” Laneville said. “For example, our MRI runs 24/7, and of course it requires some maintenance. At some point we will definitely need to upgrade it, and that time will come very soon. That’s part of the capital campaign.”
Lions Club members were shown the areas where the money will be spent. Club President Danny Ansara said the decision to give the donation to TADHF was a “no-brainer” because everyone in the community relies on the hospital’s medical care and services.
He explained how the club raised the funds for the donation.
“One of our supporters is Jackpot Time Bingo,” he said. “There are 80 groups involved in raising money for their associations, including us. Over the course of a year we raise quite a lot of money there.”
“The Schumacher Lions Club has other ways to raise money: our Spring Sportsmen Show and our Christmas Craft Show. Along with bingo, these are our three main ways to raise money.
“We have other events like our 240 Social, a series of raffles that culminate in a steak dinner and grand prize drawings.”
Whether it’s working at bingo or contributing to other projects, Ansara says the key is the volunteer work of club members.
“To raise money for good causes like the hospital, our volunteers are vital,” he said. “We are just one of many. Hopefully more organizations will support the hospital. We live here. They live here. At some point, we all have to use the hospital.”
