The Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary made a donation to bring the East Kootenay Foundation for Health’s (EKFH) Warm Embrace Campaign to its $1.8 million goal.
EKFH executive director Brenna Hong says the $150,000 donation helped ensure the East Kootenay Regional Hospital gets a Tier 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
“This will save a lot of premature babies and their families from needing to be airlifted out of the area,” said Hong.
“It’s something we’ve needed for a long time and now it’s going to be a reality.”
This was the Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary’s second donation to this campaign, bringing their total contribution to $290,000.
“The members of Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary are thrilled to top off the Warm Embrace Campaign with a donation of $150,000 this year,” said Pegg Davidson, Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary President.
“Our volunteers so often express the joy they receive in being a part of giving to health-care projects in Kimberley and the wider East Kootenay region.”
The Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary has donated over $1 million to health care improvements for Kimberley and the East Kootenay.
“They are our biggest supporters. They’re totally based on volunteer hours and they run two thrift shops: one in Kimberly and one in Maryville,” said Hong.
“They work extremely hard and they’re always giving back to the community.”
Hong says the future NICU will make sure families can stay local if their newborns need intensive medical assistance.
“We’re going to have specialized equipment and all the nurses will be trained in neonatal care,” said Hong.
“We will be able to keep a lot of those babies home, but some will still need to be airlifted out if they have more complicated health concerns. A lot will get to stay local now and that’s going to save families a ton of grief and financial strain.”
Hong says the money raised through the Warm Embrace campaign will be quickly put to use.
“The renovation and build will hopefully begin early in the new year and we will helpfully see that unit opening within the next year,” said Hong.
“We know things change with building, but that is the plan for now. We’ll be able to keep those families closer to home very soon.”
While the EKFH’s goal has been reached, the EKFH is still accepting donations to the Warm Embrace campaign until the end of 2024.
Funds above their $1.8 million goal will be used to improve pediatric and neonatal care at East Kootenay Regional Hospital.
Be the first to know! Don’t miss out on breaking news and daily updates in your area. Sign up to MyEastKootenayNow News Alerts.
