By Carolynn Robertson, Secretary
Squamish General Hospital Auxiliary Society

Winter stock is put away.  The Gift Shop is deep cleaned.  Summer stock is tastefully displayed.  Plexiglas is installed.  Signs are made.  Finally, the Gift Shop operated by the Squamish General Hospital Auxiliary Society is ready to reopen.  Julie Erb, our Auxiliary’s President, ensured that every minute detail was looked after. Because of Covid 19, the Gift Shop has been closed since early March.  In July, Vancouver Coastal Health gave the Society permission to reopen providing the Shop followed strict protocols established by health officials.  Hospital management was very supportive in helping the Gift Shop to reopen.  
Some of our Auxiliary members volunteered to staff the Shop.  One member works in the Shop and a second member ensures that only one customer at a time is in the Shop.  Clothing may neither be tried on nor returned.  Everything in disinfected both at the beginning and the end of each shift.  This includes doors, windows, cash register, counters, plexiglass, light switches, etc.  In other words, everything that the customer and the volunteer touch must be sanitized.  
At the beginning, the Shop’s hours were Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.  In late August, as more members volunteered, it increased its opening time to five days a week.  A Saturday shift has now been added.  
It is encouraging to receive support from Hospital staff, visitors and patients.  Together we can make a difference!