Hospital Sponsors 11th annual Santa's Workshop

Bonner General Hospital

When you think of well-being in all its forms, crafting something handmade is at the top of the list. We have many hospital employees who are not only skilled at their professionals, but have many artistic talents.

For the past 11 years, Bonner General Hospital has showcased their artistic efforts with a community craft fair "Santa's Workshop." This year's event is coming early and is on tap for Friday, Nov. 12, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The fair will feature a variety of craft booths, located at the Brown House conference room and basement, as well as the gift shop lobby area.

Christmas is more than an eve and a day. It's a season where events like bazaars and craft fairs feature the creative side of our community. That creativity is not lost on healthcare professionals. Among the crafters at "Santa's Workshop", are people like patient registration clerks, housekeepers, social workers, nurses, an outreach coordinator, hospice professionals and volunteers, auxiliary volunteers and a director of materials.

Along with our assortment of healthcare professionals and their handiwork, we'll feature many other community artisans.

Santa's Workshop is a wonderful way to get started with the holiday shopping season. The fair features items like silver jewelry, recipe holders, painted wood crafts, cards and notebooks, photography, herbal vinegars, bird feeders, dream pillows, watercolor paintings, soaps, baskets, Native American flutes, wind chimes, table runners, candles, Christmas ornaments, polar fleece items, baked goods, fimo art, pressed flower arrangements, vines and gourds, tole painting, wreaths and many other unique and wonderful gift items.

Friday, Nov. 12, is also the day you can pick up your Hospice roses. For those people who don't have time to stop and shop at Santa's Workshop, there will be a drive-through rose pick-up station located at the main entrance of the gift shop lobby. From 10 a.m. to 3 pm., you can drive through and auxiliary volunteers will give you your bouquet of roses without leaving the comfort of your car. From 3-6 pm, roses can be picked up in the gift shop lobby area of the hospital.

We encourage you to stay awhile and enjoy the holiday spirit of Santa's Workshop and take a tour of The Healing Garden. Roses can also be picked up at the chapel in The Healing Garden.

The Bonner Community Hospice team will be selling hot cider, hot drinks and other specialty items. Hospital auxiliary members will be selling their famous baked goods and other Christmas gift items in the gift shop lobby area, and the Bonner Boutique will be premiering its holiday merchandise.

Another traditional holiday event will be coming along the second week of December. The hospital's 8th annual Parade of Trees, is scheduled for display the week of Dec. 6-10. Many of our hospital departments, physician offices, individuals and area businesses are putting their creative talents together to decorate tabletop-size trees for the benefit of the Bonner General Hospital Auxiliary. There will be 30-plus decorated trees on display throughout the week in the hospital classroom and you are welcome to come in and place your written bids on your tree or trees of choice. Final bidding is on Friday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m.

The holiday season is alive and well at Bonner General Hospital. Besides Santa's Workshop and the Parade of Trees, the Holiday Home Tour is on tap for Sunday, Dec. 5. Five area homes have been selected to be on the tour, which will benefit The Healing Garden. The tour is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and after your tour you can spend a memorial moment and attend the tree lighting ceremony of the hospice tree at The Healing Garden.

Come on down to "our house" to get a start on the holiday season, and enjoy a fun and old-fashioned Christmas craft fair on Friday, Nov. 12. The hospital will be displaying Christmas spirit at its talented best. It's a chance for all of us to get together and enjoy handcrafted items, pick up a bouquet of roses, drink a cup of hot cider, tour a beautiful garden, and enjoy a bit of warmth with co-workers, neighbors, and friends.