Events
Teddy Bear Campaign
Every November, the KGH Auxiliary launches its annual Teddy Bear campaign. Each year a new bear is chosen and it sports a royal blue ribbon and tag acknowledging contributions in support of the Pediatrics program. These bears are a cozy companion for hospitalized children in need of comfort. The Auxiliary strives to have 250 bears sponsored, at a cost of $100 each, for distribution to our youngest patients with all proceeds going toward the purchase of equipment for the Pediatric unit. A charitable receipt is available upon request.
The Teddy Bear Campaign is very fortunate over the past few years to have been supported by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 560 which enables all the proceeds to be donated to the Pediatric program.
In 2021, the Campaign raised the campaign raised $27,000, bringing its overall contribution since 2004 to over $460,000.
Click here for the 2022 Teddy Bear Campaign information and order form.
Teddy Bear Bridge & Refreshments
In November, the Auxiliary invites bridge enthusiasts to join us for our Annual Teddy Bear Bridge. The event includes an afternoon of bridge with coffee or tea and squares plus door prizes. All proceeds go towards the Auxiliary's Teddy Bear Campaign. This event is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Annual Christmas Bazaar
The annual Christmas Bazaar is held in November from 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Environmental Exposure Unit on Dietary 3 at the KGH site. It is a great opportunity to shop early for the holiday season. The Bazaar includes a silent auction where items with a value of $25 or more are donated by our members and supporters. From the Auxiliary Gift Shop we feature toys, children's books and lingerie. We also have pre-owned costume jewellery, Christmas wreaths and centrepieces, hand knitted items and used paperback books. The Gift Shop offers a 15 per cent discount in the shop on the day of the Bazaar. In addition, as only coffee, tea and scones are available at the Bazaar, the Cafe provides a special lunch of the day. This event is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Spring Fling Bridge & Lunch
This event is temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Programs
Artistic Outreach
The goal of our Artistic Outreach program is to provide patients with poster art that will offer some diversion and make their room feel more comfortable. This program is offered on specific patient care floors. Volunteers visit the units with the album and then deliver the chosen art piece and hang it in the patient’s room. The artwork depicts a variety of scenes; everything from the masters to pictures of animals.
HUGS (Helping Us Grow Strong)
Our 'Helping Us Grow Strong' program provides families in need with baby packages that contain two receiving blankets, a sweater & hat set, sleepers, gently used clothing and a handmade quilt/blanket. The items are either donated or solicited from members of the Auxiliary or the community. The program is administered through the Social Work department.
Small blankets and hats are also supplied to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Labour and Delivery unit on Connell 5. In addition, NICU, Connell 5 and Emergency are supplied with bereavement quilts and envelopes as required. Warm lap blankets and slippers for long term stay patients, as well as clothing and blankets for Pediatric patients are supplied as needed. This program is administered by the Social Work department. As of September 2015, every baby born at KGH receives a "Mini Hug." gift bag that contains small knitted items for the new baby.
If you are interested in participating in this program or can help by knitting/donating or picking up these items for us in the community, please contact the KGH Auxiliary office 613-549-6666 extension 6352.
Millennium Endowment Fund
The KGH Auxiliary Education Endowment Fund was created in December 1999 to mark the occasion of the new millennium. The ongoing source of funding, through realized investment earnings, focuses on educational initiatives across the broad range of health professional fields. These include courses taken by KHSC staff at KGH that will directly enhance patient care at the KGH site. The fund is administered by the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation and the annual income is disbursed to applicants approved by a committee composed of Auxiliary members and a representative from Leadership and Learning Services. To date, over $95,000 has been disbursed to various learners.
Special Care
Trained volunteers visit patients who require that extra special touch. All Auxiliary volunteers have taken the palliative care training course and work with staff to ensure patient needs are met. They also provide respite time for family visitors as needed. Patients may be referred by staff or at the request of family.
Fundraising activities
Auxiliary Café
The Auxiliary Café, located in the main lobby of the KGH site (at the Stuart Street entrance), has seating for 100 and is a great place to enjoy breakfast, lunch or supper. Freshly-brewed coffee and a wide range of other beverages are always available to accompany a selection of bakery items and sandwich choices. There are two daily soup options and you will find a special menu item posted daily.
After many years in our current location, the Café has an excellent reputation for offering first-rate meal selections, made daily using fresh, high-quality products. The Auxiliary operates the Café and all revenues generated are returned to the hospital for the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment to enhance patient care.
Gift Certificates ($2 and $5 values) are available year round. You can contact the Auxiliary Café by calling 613-549-6666 extension 4236.
The Auxiliary Café accepts payment with cash, debit, American Express, Visa and Master Card.REGULAR HOURS:
- Weekdays: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Weekends: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m
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CLOSED on all statutory holidays.
Field of Miracles
The Field of Miracles mural, located on Kidd 5, was opened in 2005 to celebrate the KGH Auxiliary’s 100th anniversary and the miracle of birth. The delightful wall painting is surrounded by oval-shaped commemorative plaques. Each plaque states the name and date of birth of a baby born at KGH and family plaques are grouped together where possible. More than 500 ‘miracles’ adorn the field including one for musician Bryan Adams. While on a visit to Kingston in 2009 for a concert, he authorized the placement of a plaque in commemoration of his birth at KGH. The plaques cost $100 each and a tax donation receipt is issued for that amount less the cost of the plaque. For an application form please click here.
Gift Shop
The Gift Shop is located inside the main (Stuart Street) entrance of the KGH site and can be reached by calling 613-549-6666 extension 4237. We welcome over-the-phone orders to be delivered to patients. Items for sale include:
- Babywear including hand knitted babywear) and baby gifts (photo frames, toys, and mementos)
- Toys, teddy bears and children’s books
- Greeting cards for all occasions
- Gift bags, totes and handbags for all seasons
- Costume jewellery to suit all tastes
- Clothing: nightwear, lingerie, slippers, casual tops and lightweight informal jackets for day and evening wear
- Fresh flower arrangements: orders taken for delivery to patient rooms
- Magazines, books, candy, snacks
- Gifts for all occasions as well as items for the home. Watch for the displays to change with the seasons and special occasions
The gift shop accepts payment with cash, debit, American Express, Visa and Master Card.
Regular hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. CLOSED weekends and statutory holidays.
Lottery Booth
The KGH Auxiliary Lottery Booth sells all types of OLG lottery tickets and is located on Connell 1, near the KGH Auxiliary Tuck Shop.
All profits from the lottery booth are directed to the Auxiliary's annual contribution to the KGH site.
Temporarily CLOSED.
Memorial Fund
The Memorial Fund receives many donations in memory of patients and/or former Auxiliary members and friends. The names of the deceased are recorded in the Memorial Book and the funds are used to purchase equipment needed by the hospital.
Fundraising Committee
Following the successful fundraising results for the Endowment Fund, the committee continued in its role of fundraising. Annual bus trips, Bridge & Lunch, the annual Teddy Bear campaign in November and the Christmas Bazaar are the mainstays of this committee. It also undertakes any other event which will raise funds.
Tuck Shop
The Tuck Shop is located on Connell 1 across from the Connell elevators.
The Tuck Shop offers fast and efficient service for coffee, tea, muffins and donuts at very reasonable prices. Coffee is always hot and freshly made and fresh sandwiches and milk are available for purchase. The shop also offers a number of other services:
- Dry cleaning (temporarily closed)
- Hot/cold drinks, muffins, pastries, sandwiches from the 'Golden Rooster', candy, boxed chocolates, chips, gum
- Sundries: shampoo, toothbrushes, batteries, etc.
- Newspapers: The Kingston Whig Standard & The Globe and Mail
- Magazines
- Used paperback books
- Greeting cards
Cash, debit, American Express, Visa and MasterCard accepted (minimum sale $5.00)
Regular hours: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. CLOSED weekends and statutory holidays.