BLYN — With a track record of raising $1.72 million since 1977, Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild Thrift Shop on Wednesday donated more than $24,000 to benefit health-related services in Clallam County.
“We’ve had a very good year at the thrift shop,” said Jean Janis, returning guild president, talking to 165 attending the guild’s annual luncheon and fashion show at 7 Cedars Casino’s Club Seven.
“Who said the economy was down?”
But to keep the thrift store’s fundraising momentum going, Addie Curtis, the guild’s newly seated vice president, said help is wanted.
“We are in desperate need of volunteers,” Curtis said at the luncheon.
It takes 10 to staff the thrift shop at the corner of Second Avenue and Bell Street, and volunteers have fallen off from a high of 120 to 94 recently.
To volunteer, phone 360-683-7044.
Among those attending the event were Eric Lewis, Olympic Medical Center chief executive officer; Clallam County Fire District 3 Chief Steve Vogel; Leslie Lauren, director of the Dungeness Health and Wellness Clinic; Marca Davies, director of the nursing program at Peninsula College; and Mary Hunchberger, executive director of college advancement at Peninsula College.
The guild handed out $24,175 in scholarships and awards Wednesday.
Three returning students received $500 scholarships each. They are Lesley Everett of Port Angeles, Anna Fox of Sequim and David Lewis of Port Angeles.
A total of $431,425 in scholarships has been awarded to date.
Also awarded was $1,650 in scholarship assistance to the nursing program at Peninsula College.
To date, the nursing program has received $50,000 from the guild.
The Dungeness Health and Wellness Clinic received $12,000.
To date, the clinic has received $37,000 from the guild.
OMC received $5,400 for a heavy-duty electric wheelchair, $1,850 for a Welch Allen Spot for Vital Signs and $1,775 for an NK Knee Exercise Table for post-operative knee-surgery therapy.
The latest donation brings the total the guild has donated to OMC to $660,097.
The guild also has donated through the years to Clallam County Fire District No. 3, with its annual gift awarded at its Christmas luncheon.
Janis also honored guild member Shirley Lehman for her service with the guild.
Lehman started volunteering with the guild in 1982, served as guild president in 1985 and 1986, and also served as Thrift Shop chairwoman for two years in the 1980s.
Lehman works as a “day lady” and cashier at the Thrift Shop and has served almost 30 years with the guild, Janis said.
Other officers sworn in at the luncheon were Mary Ann Huffman, treasurer; Donna Huswick, returning as secretary; returning thrift shop chairwoman Connie Hixon; and Sue Tondreau, co-chairwoman.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.