One of the busiest places in town during Manistee’s Old Christmas Weekend is the Manistee Hospital Auxiliary’s Sleighbell Craft Show. Hospital volunteers have been hosting the event for more than two decades, and it has become an integral part of the area’s holiday festivities.
“We are happy to provide a joyful atmosphere to kick off the holiday season, a place for people to shop, visit Santa, and meet with friends and family,” said event organizer Kathy Berish. The most recent event featured 168 booths offering a wide array of items for sale, as well as a bake sale and a raffle.
The 2019 event raised nearly $15,000, which will support Manistee Hospital’s upcoming emergency room renovation. “The emergency department is vital to our community’s well-being, and this project will allow the hospital to better meet patient and staff needs,” said Berish. “Our volunteers – especially those who greet patients in the main lobby – are very excited about the renovation.” Thanks to an anonymous matching challenge that ran through December 31, the impact of the Auxiliary’s donation to the campaign will be doubled.
“We’d like to thank all our shoppers and vendors for making this event a great success,” said Berish. This year’s event was spearheaded by Berish, Betty Tyson, Mary Lynn Burchard, Mary Lou Racine, Terry Parks, Marianne Blair, and Linda Povilus. “We divide the tasks needed to make this huge event happen,” said Berish. “Without each person's efforts it would not be as smooth or successful as it was.”
The Auxiliary has been continuously supporting Manistee’s community hospital for nearly 70 years, predating the current hospital location in Parkdale. Volunteers assist patients and staff in multiple departments and host several fundraisers throughout the year. They are one of the largest donors to the hospital. “We are very grateful for the dedication of our volunteers,” said James Barker, CEO of Manistee Hospital. “Their work in and out of the hospital improves our patients’ experience and is an invaluable asset to our health care team.”
Berish reported the Auxiliary is already starting to plan for the 2020 craft show. For more information about volunteer opportunities, visit munsonhealthcare.org/volunteer.