Handmade with heart: Auxiliary readies for its annual fundraiser

Every November, as the air turns crisp and the mountains take on their winter hue, a special warmth fills Bishop’s Birch Street Annex. That warmth comes from the hands and hearts of the Northern Inyo Hospital Auxiliary -- a devoted team of volunteers who spend ten months of the year crafting and preparing for one beloved community tradition: the Annual Boutique.

This year’s event takes place Saturday, Nov. 1, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Birch Street Annex, 2957 Birch St., Bishop, near the Jill Kinmont Boothe School in the Manor Market area. Shoppers will discover tables brimming with handcrafted quilts, wooden keepsake boxes, jewelry, and home décor -- each item created with the same care the Auxiliary extends to Northern Inyo Hospital’s patients and staff.

Among this year’s showstoppers is an intricate dollhouse built by a local craftsman. Complete with tiny, detailed furnishings, the piece perfectly captures the Auxiliary’s spirit -- transforming time, talent, and creativity into lasting community support.

The Boutique also features the Auxiliary’s much-loved bake sale, offering homemade pies, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and coffee cakes. “Our baked goods always go fast,” said Auxiliary President Karen Benson with a laugh. “If you’re hoping to take home a pie or two, come early -- they don’t last long!”

Benson said the group’s year-round efforts are truly a labor of love. “Every stitch, every brushstroke, every handmade treasure represents our appreciation for this hospital and this community,” she said. “We know that what we do helps provide necessary tools and comfort items that benefit everyone in the Eastern Sierra.”

Since its founding, the Northern Inyo Hospital Auxiliary has raised more than $813,000 to purchase essential medical equipment not covered under Northern Inyo Healthcare District’s annual budgets. Their contributions have provided baby warming beds, bedside ultrasounds, specialty exam chairs, cardiology tools, and digital imaging equipment -- each helping NIHD deliver high-quality care close to home.

Now beginning his first month as Chief Executive Officer, Christian Wallis said he already feels inspired by the Auxiliary’s generosity and teamwork. “The Auxiliary reflects the very best of what a community hospital can be,” Wallis said. “Their dedication and kindness directly impact patient care, and their Boutique brings people together in a joyful, meaningful way. It’s inspiring to see such commitment in action.”

Adding to the festivities, the Auxiliary’s annual drawing offers prizes of $1,000, $300, and $200. Tickets are available in the Auxiliary Gift Shop, located on the left side of the hospital’s Main Lobby, Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and at the Boutique itself on Nov. 1. Guests can also enter door-prize drawings for small gifts donated by local businesses and residents -- a long-standing tradition that adds a touch of fun and surprise to the day.

Visitors will also find a tempting selection of See’s Candy, perfect for early holiday gifts. The Auxiliary Gift Shop remains the only place in Inyo County to purchase See’s Candy year-round. The shop also carries a cheerful variety of new baby gifts, toys for big brothers and sisters, and seasonal items that brighten the days of patients, visitors, and staff alike.

The Auxiliary welcomes new members to join its efforts. While crafters always find a home in the group, volunteers are also needed to help in the Gift Shop or provide administrative support throughout the year. Those who love to craft but cannot attend the Auxiliary’s Wednesday morning meetings at 10 a.m. at the Birch Street Annex can join as remote members, creating and donating handmade items from home for this good cause. For more details, call President Karen Benson at (818) 438-0691.

For the Auxiliary, the upcoming Boutique is more than a fundraiser -- it is a celebration of connection, compassion, and community pride. Through every quilt, every baked good, and every box of candy, these volunteers show that healthcare is not just about medicine. It’s about people caring for one another, one heartfelt gesture at a time.