About Us

Summerland Health Care Auxiliary

Our Story

In 1909, The Ladies Hospital Auxiliary as it was known then started with a small group of women. These women helped to raise money for the first cottage hospital in Summerland which opened in 1910. The money was raised through fashion shows, tag sales, catering and selling baby clothes.

From those humble beginnings our organization has grown considerably. We are now known as The Summerland Health Care Auxiliary, and we welcome everyone to become volunteers.

Our revenue comes from our very popular Thrift Shop which brings people from one end of the valley to the other to shop. The funds raised go to support nonprofit health care related projects. We were the largest single contributor to the new Oncology Clinic which opened at the Penticton Regional Hospital in 2025.

To date we have raised over $9,000,000. With support of the public though donations, sales at the Thrift Shop and our dedicated volunteers we hope to be around for many years to come.

Made in 2000

Made in 2026

A Brief History...

The Ladies Hospital Auxiliary was first formed in April 1909.
With the help of funds raised by the Auxiliary, the first cottage hospital was established in Summerland at Fenner House on April 11th, 1910.
Early fund raising activities included tag days, catering, making and selling baby clothing and fashion shows.
In 1959, the first Thrift Shop found its home in the old municipal office and library building.
Red smocks were first worn by Auxiliary Thrift Shop Volunteers in 1962.
In 1972, with $58,000 in funds raised, and a mortgage in place, the Thrift Shop moved to its current location on North Victoria Road in Summerland.
The mortgage was ceremonially burned just two years later in 1974.
The Ladies Hospital Auxiliary became the Summerland Hospital Auxiliary in 1974 in recognition of the contributions made by its gentlemen volunteers.
The Auxiliary was named Good Citizen of the Year in 1985.
The name of the organization changed in 1994 to its current title: Summerland Health Care Auxiliary.
An extension more than doubling the size of the Thrift Shop was added to the premises in 1999.
The Auxiliary celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2009.
The prestigious Mayor's Community Service Award was presented to the Auxiliary in 2011.
In 2019, the Auxiliary was the recipient of the 'Non Profit Organization of the Year' award as presented at the 81st annual Summerland Business Excellence Awards

Recent Accomplishments...

In 2013, the Auxiliary donated $95,000 toward the purchase of a new operating room table, operating room lights and surgical scrub sinks for the Summerland Memorial Health Centre.
In 2014, the Auxiliary fulfilled its commitment to contribute $300,000 toward the upgrade of x-ray services from analogue to digital operations at the Penticton Regional Hospital.
In 2016/17, the Auxiliary donated $100,000 for the purchase of a new PHACO eye surgery instrument for the Summerland Memorial Health Centre.
In 2017, the Auxiliary donated $50,000 towards the creation of a pediatric play/wait area in the new Penticton Regional Hospital tower.
In 2019, the Auxiliary fulfilled its commitment to raise $1 Million for the PRH capital building campaign.
In 2022, the Auxiliary fulfilled its commitment to raise $800,000 for upgrades to the Summerland Memorial Health Centre X-ray service.
Beginning in 2023, the Auxiliary has undertaken a new commitment to raise $1 Million for the PRH oncology clinic upgrade. As of December 2025, $900,000 has been raised and gifted to the PRH.
In 2025, the Auxiliary increased its annual bursary awards to five awards of $5000 each for graduating students of Summerland Secondary School pursuing education in health care related fields of study.
Since the Auxiliary's inception in 1909, $8.936 Million in donations has been gifted to health care services in our region.
A summary of recent donations is posted at the Thrift Shop and published annually in the Summerland Review.

A Word About Donations

The Thrift Shop is accepting donations. Please drop off items between the hours of 7:00am to 3:30pm daily. Below are some guidelines when donating your items.