The humble beginnings of the 91原创 Memorial Hospital Auxiliary pre-date the hospital itself.

Before LMH was built, local women formed a group that knitted socks and sewed bandages for the Red Cross during the Second World War.

In September, 1948 the cottage hospital opened to patients, and then the main hospital opened in February, 1965.

The auxiliary turns 70 this year and is marking the occasion with a members-only birthday party on Sept. 25.

Over the past seven decades, the auxiliary has raised millions of dollars for the 鈥榟ospital on the hill.鈥�

The lifeblood of the auxiliary鈥檚 fundraising is the Penny Pincher Thrift Shop at 20560 Fraser Hwy.

And it just so happens that both are celebrating an anniversary, with Penny Pincher marking its 40th year.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been around a long time,鈥� auxiliary president Diane Thornton said.

鈥淚 still think there are people out there who don鈥檛 know who we are or what we do, or confuse us with the (91原创 Memorial Hospital) Foundation.鈥�

This was the first full year the auxiliary has run the Penny Pincher shop at the shop鈥檚 location on the east end of the one-way section of Fraser Highway (the former Coast Capital Savings building).

鈥淎nd we had the biggest profits,鈥� Thornton said.

鈥淪o we鈥檙e always trying to encourage ourselves to see if we can push that figure.鈥�

Thornton said both the LMH auxiliary and foundation share the same goals 鈥� raising funds for the hospital 鈥� but stressed 鈥渨e are two separate organizations.

鈥淲e are all volunteer-based and they are professional fundraisers.鈥�

Last year, the auxiliary pledged $753,000 worth of equipment for LMH, Thornton said.

鈥淚t was a little unusual,鈥� said director Thelma Boileau, who has been with the auxiliary for 17 years.

鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 pledge that much every year but what happened was, one of the major pledges we made from the previous year was cancelled, so that money rolled over into last year.鈥�

The decision to take on the role of volunteer president was natural for Thornton, given her background.

鈥淚 come from a long line of volunteers.

鈥淢y mother was a big volunteer with the auxiliary in Powell River and I have two sisters who both volunteer there, as well,鈥� she explained.

That family history is what attracted Thornton to the auxiliary.

鈥淚 knew what it was, and I knew what I did through my mom and the work that she did,鈥� Thornton said.

She鈥檚 driven 鈥� like all of the auxiliary鈥檚 volunteers who spend their time at the Penny Pincher store and manning the gift shop at LMH 鈥� for the betterment of the hospital.

鈥淥ur tag line for this year is 鈥�70 years of serving our hospital and our community,鈥欌�� Thornton said.

鈥淣ot only do we raise funds for the hospital through Penny Pincher and the gift shop, we also have been involved over the past seven years in a lot of other programs.鈥�

Programs sponsored by the auxiliary include residential care, acute care, junior volunteers, meet and greet, and pastoral care.

As well, the information desk at LMH is staffed by auxiliary volunteers, and the auxiliary sponsors the 鈥榁olunTEEN鈥� program for volunteers aged 19 and under who socialize with patients, man the information desk, and offer reading materials on patient units.

The success of the auxiliary not only hinges on the volunteers, but also on the people who purchase items at the thrift shop, vendor tables at LMH and the hospital gift shop.

Thornton said the reason for giving is simple.

鈥淲e all have some kind of connection to the hospital,鈥� she said.

鈥淎nd what鈥檚 donated, stays in 91原创.鈥�

More volunteers are always appreciated, especially those of the male persuasion.

鈥淕ood, strong men who don鈥檛 say a lot and have good backs,鈥� Thornton said half-jokingly.

For more about the auxiliary and its programs, visit langleymemorialhospitalauxiliary.ca.