You're never too old
A short chat with Evelyn Black
By Gerry Gray
Evelyn Black turned 99 on April 24th. She still volunteers two times a week to price merchandise at the Economy Shop, a subsidiary of the Hospital Auxiliary, which she and two friends, Frankie Fraser and Elsie Green formed in the late 60s.
Gerry Gray: I understand you have been volunteering for the Hospital Auxiliary since 1945. Thats a long time. How did you get involved?
Evelyn Black: During the Second World War, along with other women from Powell River, I volunteered to assist the Red Cross, which was overloaded seeing to the comfort of our troops in Europe and elsewhere. As soon as the war was over in August 1945, we volunteers found ourselves without a job. The hospital matron at the time suggested we form an association to help out the local hospital. She said one had been set up on Vancouver Island and it was quite successful. So we did and 38 women showed up for the first meeting in December. Kay Andrews was the first president.
GG: Where was the first shop set up?
EB: Next to the hospital in the laundry building. We had a separate space, which housed the furnace, and the utility space. We had to cover our goods every night to keep the dust from dropping down. When the fire hall was moved out we moved in. It was better conditions at the fire hall. At least there wasnt water running down the wall and we didnt have to cover the goods.
GG: What was your incentive to open the Economy Shop? Wasnt the Auxiliary making enough money?
EB: It was doing okay but I thought we could make more with another outlet. We were still with the Auxiliary but we ran the Economy Shop and priced our own wares. All our revenues went through the Auxiliary and on to the hospital.
GG: Over the years the Auxiliary has raised a lot of money for the hospital wish list. I recall when I was on the Hospital Board the annual cheque was sometimes over $100,000. And that was back in the '70s. Have you any idea how much the hospital has received over the years?
EB: No, but Im sure a couple of million has been used for hospital equipment. The hospital had a wish list and we had one and we prioritized our list and sent the funds to the hospital to administer. I would say that a great percentage of the equipment was bought with Auxiliary donations.
GG: There seems to be a lot of clothing and books. Do all the goods get sold?
EB: What we do with the surplus is send it to Vancouvers Thrifty Village. They sell it in that market and send the money back to us. Believe me, nothing is wasted. Its used in some way or another.
GG: Seems like you people were recycling before it became such a popular event. What are some of the items you determine can be fixed and recycled?
EB: Youd be amazed at the things that people throw away. Bicycles, appliances, clothing still wearable and just generally wasted products. There are a lot of useable and saleable items out there and its good we have such an outlet to raise money for the hospital.
Evelyn Black is just one of hundreds of volunteers who, over the years, put many hours sorting, washing and pricing items so they are in a saleable condition.
