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These volunteers turn chocolates and stuffed animals into MRI machines

A huge thank you to The Ottawa Hospital for covering our work!


“Have you ever stopped by one of our gift shops to buy something special for a loved one or for yourself? If so, you actually bought two gifts. Proceeds from every sale help support hospital services and programs that make a difference for our patients.”Have you ever stopped by one of our gift shops to buy something special for a loved one or for yourself? If so, you actually bought two gifts. Proceeds from every sale help support hospital services and programs that make a difference for our patients.

In other words, that stuffed animal you bought? It may have helped us buy an MRI machine!

Our gift shops are run by The Ottawa Hospital Auxiliary, an incredible group of volunteers and staff dedicated to in-hospital fundraising. Over the past decade alone, they have donated more than $14 million to our hospital.

The Auxiliary is similar to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, which also supports the hospital (let’s hear it for our incredible Foundation!), but there’s a big difference between the two. While the Foundation’s focus is mainly to inspire support from the community, Auxiliary volunteers do their work inside our hospital, at both the General and Civic gift shops, the Auxiliary Shop at the Civic, and art sales located near the shops. Proceeds from those sales are then donated back to The Ottawa Hospital, both through the Foundation and directly to the hospital, so they can be put to work to help patients.

Here are some of the ways that The Ottawa Hospital Auxiliary is helping us support our patients, their families and our community…” Read more.