Strawberry Tea event raises money for Bonnyville hospital equipment

It was an afternoon of tea in fine china and delicious cake, all to raise money for a worthy cause.

The Bonnyville Health Centre Ladies Auxiliary held their annual Strawberry Tea event last Wednesday at the Bonnyville Seniors Drop-in Centre.

Roughly 150 people came out that afternoon to be served tea in fine china cups with strawberry cake and whipped cream and angel food cake. All for a $7 entry that goes toward the Bonnyville Health Centre. 

“We do nice things for the hospital,” said organizer Polly Kopala. 

“We purchase equipment with our fundraising and we have a bit of a scholarship fund.” 

It’s been an annual initiative that the Ladies Auxiliary coordinate in May, usually at the hospital, but due to ongoing pandemic restrictions at health care facilities, they shifted to the Seniors Drop-in Centre.

The last time they were able to hold the event was in 2019.

Image: Bonnyville Health Centre Auxiliary.

“We were very happy with the facility where we had it because there’s plenty of room and the kitchen is big and it went well. We had a really good turnout,” said Kopala. 

“People seemed very happy to see each other and it was just a pleasant afternoon.”

The Bonnyville Health Centre Ladies Auxiliary runs the gift shop at the hospital, while also providing two annual bursaries to Bonnyville area students who are typically enrolled in and attending a Health-Related Program and who have completed at least one year.

Kopala thanked the numerous sponsors, donors, and volunteers who helped make the event a reality once again.

“It was really nice to see ladies smiling and chatting. It was just a beehive of visiting.”