NEW GLASGOW. N.S. – In a back room where the UPS outlet used to be in New Galsgow, several volunteers are putting their creative talents to good use, making wreaths for an Aberdeen Hospital auxiliary fundraiser.
Sharon Macdonald, a past-president of the auxiliary, has been a member for about 20 years.
“We have about a half-dozen members here now, we had other people here this morning, we’ll have more members coming later (Saturday) and throughout the week,” she said just after noon on Nov. 23.
About 50 volunteers will donate their time and energy to the effort, and not all of them are members of the auxiliary; some are friends and family members who offered to pitch in and help.
The wreaths are for sale for $35 at the former UPS building, located in the West Side plaza, near Sobeys.
“We started with 30 wreaths, now we’re now up to 200,” said Macdonald.
“That’s really our maximum, because to get them together and get them decorated within week is our goal.”
The double-sided boughs were purchased from a Christmas tree farm in Antigonish County, and Michael’s, a craft store at Highland Square Mall, donated some of the colourful material for the wreaths.
Macdonald offered assurances that these boughs are sturdy, and can withstand even the harshest of Canadian winters.
“You put these wreaths outside, and they will last until April,” she says.
Beth Clarke said she can put together a wreath in about 15 minutes.
“I’m really slow,” she says modestly.
A few years ago, with her children grown and moved on, she started looking for things to occupy some of her spare time.
“I volunteered for my kid’s stuff, and now my kids have gone away. So, I was looking for a way to find things that suited me for volunteering, and the hospital is one of them. And this is a nice way to get ready for the (holiday) season.”
