(Calhoun, Ga) — When people think about shopping for a special gift or home décor, they don’t often think about their local hospital.
But Gordon Hospital officials are hoping to change that way of thinking. Renovations of the hospital’s gift shop – The Garden Shop – have been completed and the public is encouraged to stop by and look around at all the colorful gifts available for all occasions.
“We are so thankful for Tony Shadix and all the members of the Gordon Hospital Plant Operations team for their hard work in getting the gift shop ready so quickly,” said Marsha McDaniel, auxiliary coordinator for Gordon Hospital, who manages the gift shop. “They did an amazing job. We have fresh paint, new carpeting, and new shelves that are easy to access. It looks great!”
While most of the shoppers in the gift shop are typically hospital employees or patient visitors, McDaniel said that doesn’t have to be the case.
“We encourage everyone to visit us,” she said. “Because when you shop in The Garden Shop, you not only find beautiful, unique gifts for every occasion at a great price, but you are also helping your hospital at the same time.”
All proceeds from the gift shop are used to purchase items and equipment for the hospital, McDaniel explained.
“It’s a win-win situation,” Marsha said. “Many of the items we sell are bought to cheer up patients or to encourage or congratulate others during special times in their lives. In turn, the money spent on these items is used to improve our hospital.”
Two blanket warmers, valued at more than $6,000 each, have been ordered with the most recent proceeds from the gift shop, McDaniel said. Other donations with past proceeds include funds for the Second Look mammography technology for the radiology department, furnishings for the Cancer Resource Center, World Class Care at Home Capital Campaign, and the Emergency Center Capital Campaign.
“Since 2002, approximately $300,000 has been donated to the hospital through The Garden Shop,” said Judy Jackson, director of development for Gordon Hospital. “We are very appreciative to our wonderful volunteers who give so much of themselves for our gift shop and our hospital.”
Soon, Jackson added, the gift shop will be even more accessible to the public via the World Wide Web.
“We are currently working on an addition to our hospital website where you will be able to shop for gifts online,” Jackson said. “This will be particularly helpful to out-of-town people or those who can’t come to the hospital. With just a few clicks of their mouse, they will be able to order and pay for a gift, and have it delivered to a patient’s room.”
For more information about Gordon Hospital gift shop, please contact McDaniel at 706-602-7800, ext. 2256.