Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
GIVING — The Health Services Foundation is the recipient of $10,000 raised by the Houlton Regional Hospital Ladies Auxiliary. The money will be used for purchasing a microscope for the hospital’s lab and another piece for what remained to be decided at a later date. At the presenation are, from left, Joan Logan, voluntter; Glynn Porter, volunteer; Elizabeth Dulin, executive director of the foundation; Elinore Harvey, HRH Ladies Auxiliary president; Patrice Lunney, head of volunteers and Connie Davison, volunteer.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
Nestled inside Houlton Regional Hospital is one of the best kept secrets in the local business community. It has been there for decades, but the public is yet to tap fully into the source.
“We are worth a look,” said Glynn Porter, co-manager of the shop. “You might not find anything, but it is worth a look because you might just find something you like.”
The Esther Catherine Kelly Bragan Memorial Gift Shop is overseen by the Houlton Regional Hospital Ladies’ Auxiliary, which gives a minimum of $10,000 annually to the hospital to help fund a variety of projects such as the mammogram machine, a motorized wheelchair and this year, a microscope for the lab.
Whatever proceeds are made in the gift shop go directly back into the hospital.
Elinor Harvey, president of the auxiliary, who is a retired nurse and assistant administrator, took charge because she wanted to keep the auxiliary alive.
“At that point in time, it was just about to be dissolved, except for our annual meeting,” she explained. “I am motivated because of so much the auxiliary does do for the hospital. Over the years, I know for a fact that [the auxiliary] has contributed well over a million dollars to this facility. We are an integral part of the hospital. Our main [goal] is contributing to health care in whatever small way we can for the community.”
The gift shop stocks candy, numerous cards, books, the auxiliary cookbook, homemade afghans and scarves, as well as novelty items.
“We even have little items for graduation,” co-manager Joan Logan said. “We offer cards for $1.50 and less.”
“Our cards are reasonably priced,” added Connie Davison, a volunteer from Littleton. “They are made in the U.S.”
“People will come in and stock up,” inserted Porter. “They are good quality cards.”
Davison also makes cards from pictures she has taken right in her backyard.
“The photos pop right into the card frame, and then you open it, and there is plenty of room to write a message,” she demonstrated.
“They are local landscapes,” added Porter.
EXQUISITE — Crazy Kate’s jewelry is one-of-a-kind extraordinary pieces.
“We are trying to emphasize products that are made in Maine or the U.S.,” said Davison.
Logan injected, “We try to do local things as much as possible.”
The more premium gifts from out-of-state are the Rada cutlery, wind chimes and Crazy Kate’s jewelry.
“Rada is a big seller,” said Porter. “We’ve been selling those for years. People love them.”
Logan told a story of woman who came in and thought it might be time to buy some new cutlery because her’s was 20 years old.
A variety of wind chimes, with different tones costs around $15; and another popular item is the John Deere lunch boxes.
The hospital gift shop has the exclusive on Crazy Kate’s jewelry, as well.
“She lives in Ware, Mass. and sends pieces to us,” explained Davison. “They are unique and one of the kind. She does not duplicate any pieces. They are made of Swarovski crystal and Czechoslovakian glass. There is no plastic used.
“Kate used to be in a posh gallery in Hampden, Mass., so we have the exclusive in New England,” she added.
But, the most priceless commodity that the gift shop is short on is volunteers. There are less than 15 volunteers working at the gift shop. Each volunteer usually takes a three- to four-hour shift.
“We really work as a team,” said Davison.
Logan and Davison both retired from professional careers at banks.
“Volunteering makes you feel good, gets you out of the house and a purpose to get up in the morning,” Logan said. “After I retired, I missed the people. I was right in the public all the time.”
Davison added, “When I worked, I didn’t have time to be volunteering. It makes me feel good to know I am giving back just a little bit to the hospital and the community. I also love meeting people.”
Volunteers must be people-friendly, with a nice presentation.
“People who like people,” said Porter.
“We have a unique group of people who come through,” added Davison.
The gift shop is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They do not accept debit or credit cards at this time.
Logan, Davison and Porter, who are usually the ones that order the inventory, have seen that aspect of the business change.
“We meet with representatives who call us who are in the area,” said Porter.
But, Logan explained, “When I first came, everything was in a catalog. Then they didn’t have a catalog, but they would send a sales rep, who had a catalog. We’d sit there and look through books and books.”
“That was cumbersome,” Porter added.
“Now, even those companies who used to send a rep aren’t coming,” said Logan. “You have to go online. It is fun when you are together to go over items. We try to keep everything under $25.”
“We’ve been pretty successful,” Porter noted.
With the slowing economy, the gift shop volunteers are still looking for ways to make it inviting to the public.
“We take comfort in the fact we are still here,” said Davison. “We hear of other hospital gift shops that are closing.”
The managers of the gift shop continue to find ways to be creative and to draw the interest of the general public. If you want to see the gift shop carry a certain item, please let one of the volunteers know.
Editor’s note: The gift shop is looking for donations of used paperback books. Drop books off between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. during the week.
