Patients and visitors to Groves Memorial Community Hospital here may have noticed the Hospital Auxiliaries Association of Ontario (HAAO) crest being worn on the vests by volunteers at the hospital.
The HAAO represents Health Care Volunteers of Ontario, and during February that organization is celebrating its 100th anniversary of service. The Groves Hospital Volunteer Association has been a member of HAAO for 77 years. The Louise Marshall Hospital Auxiliary in Mount Forest has been a member for 88 years and the Palmerston and hospital Auxiliary has been a member for 63 years.
According to the HAAO, the ten auxiliaries in southwestern Ontario boast 4,410 volunteers who annually provide 193,954 hours of service and raise more than $1,310,991 for hospital infrastructure and research.
