Hospital auxiliary ‘optimistic’ about Tree of Lights Campaign despite planned closure

A long-standing fundraising campaign in Fort Erie continues to “brighten up people’s lives.”

That’s according to Larry Kivell, chair of the Tree of Lights campaign, organized by the Douglas Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, a group that runs the tuck shop at the local urgent care centre and has been part of the community for close to 90 years.

Each year, the fundraising effort brings in about $20,000 and Kivell hopes the 2024 edition is just as successful, or even better.

The campaign purchases equipment needed at the site on Bertie Street, such as furniture for the palliative care unit, as well as sensory and vein-finding equipment, he said.

But there is the looming question about whether the people behind the program are looking ahead to the planned closure of Douglas Memorial, which used to serve Fort Erie as a full-service hospital with a maternity ward and emergency department.

“We remain optimistic and our goal is to get as much support as we can,” said Kivell, when asked about Niagara Health’s plans to close the site once a new South Niagara Hospital in Niagara Falls is built in 2028.

In the 31 years that the Tree of Lights campaign has been running, it has paid for about $750,000 in needed equipment, Kivell estimated.

He also said the items purchased that are still in use will likely make their way to other Niagara Health sites, if and when the planned closure becomes a reality.

Another challenge the campaign is facing this year is that donation forms are printed in copies of the Fort Erie Observer, which is delivered to local homes through Canada Post twice a month.

The recent postal strike is affecting it being circulated to homes, but Kivell said the Observer has been making great efforts to get copies to many retail locations in town for people to pick up a copy during the strike.

“We need to encourage people to pick up those forms and make good use of them,” said Kivell.

Service clubs, businesses, and churches are always major contributors, but so are the people of Fort Erie who donate on their own.

“We rely mainly on individual residents and their generosity,” he said.

In previous years, a large light display was erected in front of Douglas Memorial, but that has changed in recent times.

Today, a handful of Christmas trees are lit inside the site, said Kivell.

A list of locations where the Observer can be picked up is on their Facebook page.

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