There will be no hustle for Queens General Hospital this year.<\/p>\n
The annual hospital hustle event coordinated by members of the Queens General Hospital Auxiliary has been put off until 2023. Auxiliary President Linda MacKinnon says several reasons factored into their decision to call off the 2022 edition.<\/p>\n
\u201cCOVID, we\u2019re just not sure what\u2019s going on with that or what will be in September. We also need a new chairperson. We don\u2019t currently have one to do it,\u201d said MacKinnon. \u201cReally, it needs a little more planning than to start in June or July so we felt it would be better to postpone it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The hospital hustle traditionally raises between $20,000 and $30,000 which is turned over to the auxiliary to buy equipment for the hospital.<\/p>\n
Like many fundraisers, the hustle went online in 2021 bringing in over $20,000 to buy an EKG machine. The hospital received that equipment earlier this year and it was immediately put into service. MacKinnon says auxiliary members were glad to be able to hold the hustle online but don\u2019t feel they could go that route again this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of our ladies are, we\u2019re older and we\u2019re not as savvy with the online as our younger folks are.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also heard concerns from some of their older supporters they weren\u2019t aware the hustle was even happening because they don\u2019t participate on social media and aren\u2019t comfortable moving money online.<\/p>\n
MacKinnon says with COVID-19 restrictions lifting, the hospital auxiliary is aiming to reopen the gift shop at Queens General in September. They are looking to attract new members to help raise money for the hospital.<\/p>\n
When it comes to the hustle, people can invest as much or as little time as they\u2019d like, but every bit helps.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of different types of things. You could be involved one day, you could be involved maybe a week or so just before and after or you could be involved in the actually planning, five or six months ahead,\u201d said MacKinnon.<\/p>\n
Anyone wishing to join can contact the Queens General Hospital Auxiliary directly.<\/p>\n