Health centre’s new lab chair gets applause

Piyami Health Centre in Picture Butte lab technician Sam Gillies’ old lab chair was 35 years old and according to Loretta Sorensen from the North County Health Foundation, the lab was in dire need of a new one.

“She put a proposal to the North County Health Foundation and they decided it was a good cause,” said Sorensen, adding the chair has been in the lab since July 7.

According to Alberta Health Services (AHS), since 1997 the foundation has funded over $225,000 in health care enhancements for Picture Butte and surrounding area.

The foundation, according to AHS, is governed by a volunteer board of trustees made up of Picture Butte and area residents.

Board members provide stewardship of foundation funds, ensuring money raised in the community is spent in the community wisely.

“It’s a volunteer foundation that helps with appliances and needs for our elderly and for anybody that is sick in the community. If there’s new beds needed for Piyami Place or they need a new lift for bathing or whatever — we, over the years, supplied a number of pieces of equipment both for the health centre and for the community,” said Sorensen, who has been involved with the foundation since the very beginning.

When the health centre was regionalized before the transition to AHS, Sorensen noted, each region was in charge of their own fundraising efforts.

“North County covers a big area, as for people who came to our hospital, prior to us moving here to the health centre,” she added.

“It was very nice,” said Gillies, in regards to the health foundation helping out with the purchase of a new lab chair, which the community helped fund through generous donations.

“We appreciate their donations,” added Gillies.

A Tree of Hope fundraising campaign, said Sorensen, kicks off every year in November during the Christmas holiday season.

“People donate to the foundation and this is where all the monies come from. Any time somebody passes away, sometimes their families request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the North County Health Foundation and all of these are respectfully accepted and we’re very thankful for it,” said Sorensen.

Get More Sunny South News →