History of The Khartum Ladies' Auxiliary
Khartum Ladies Auxiliary is a group of hardworking, dedicated ladies who raise funds to make a difference in special needs children’s lives. It is a non-profit organization with membership of approximately 85 ladies (2023). We are a registered charitable organization and as such, we can issue tax receipts for any donation.
The mandate of our organization is to raise funds to support Shriners Hospitals Canada, Khartum Shrine Patient Transportation Fund and the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation, and any organization helping children living with disabilities within the Khartum Shrine jurisdiction. We fund equipment, computer programs, toys, books etc.
Organized on February 6, 1925, with a $300.00 advance received from the Khartum Shriners, the Ladies Auxiliary to the Shriners’ Hospital for Children, the Winnipeg Unit, was born. On that date, at the request of Illustrious Sir W.A. McKay, Potentate of Khartum shrine, 60 ladies met to form the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Then in March of that year, a Shriner’s ward was opened in the Winnipeg Children’s Hospital, situated on Redwood Ave. near Main Street.
With the $300 donation, the ladies began their charitable work. As hospital attire would not be worn by patients, outfits were made and purchased for those patients in the new Shriner’s ward. The first annual Bazaar was held in December 1925 with profit of $1,100 (fun fact: in today’s dollars the value would be $16,133).
A sewing room was provided for use by the Auxiliary and the ladies moved in with nine sewing machines where they did all the mending and sewing needs for the hospital. The sewing room was phased out in 1973. The dental office in the hospital was fully equipped and maintained by the Auxiliary from 1952 until it closed in 1976.
In 1949, Shriner’s Hospital for Children opened at 633 Wellington Crescent at which time the Auxiliary contributed $5,000 to the hospital. Donations were also made during the first 50 years in upwards of $250,000 in funds and gifts.
The hospital was given to the provincial government in 1977 and was known as the Rehabilitation Centre for Children. At that time, the Auxiliary changed its name from “Ladies Auxiliary to the Shriners Hospital for Children with disabilities” Winnipeg Unit, to a temporary name of “Ladies Auxiliary to Khartum Temple”. In 1978, it was permanently named “Khartum Ladies Auxiliary”. Since this changeover, the Auxiliary has supported other organizations with the main focus of supporting the health and welfare of disabled children.
In 1996, the Auxiliary started to give a personalized tote bag to each child who was travelling to a Shrine Hospital for the first time and continues to this day. Each bag has the child’s name on it and contains age- appropriate books, trinkets, small items of clothing plus toiletries.
Since its inception, the Auxiliary has donated over $750,000 to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Canada, the Khartum Patient Transportation Fund and the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation.
The mandate of our organization is to raise funds to support Shriners Hospitals Canada, Khartum Shrine Patient Transportation Fund and the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation, and any organization helping children living with disabilities within the Khartum Shrine jurisdiction. We fund equipment, computer programs, toys, books etc.
Organized on February 6, 1925, with a $300.00 advance received from the Khartum Shriners, the Ladies Auxiliary to the Shriners’ Hospital for Children, the Winnipeg Unit, was born. On that date, at the request of Illustrious Sir W.A. McKay, Potentate of Khartum shrine, 60 ladies met to form the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Then in March of that year, a Shriner’s ward was opened in the Winnipeg Children’s Hospital, situated on Redwood Ave. near Main Street.
With the $300 donation, the ladies began their charitable work. As hospital attire would not be worn by patients, outfits were made and purchased for those patients in the new Shriner’s ward. The first annual Bazaar was held in December 1925 with profit of $1,100 (fun fact: in today’s dollars the value would be $16,133).
A sewing room was provided for use by the Auxiliary and the ladies moved in with nine sewing machines where they did all the mending and sewing needs for the hospital. The sewing room was phased out in 1973. The dental office in the hospital was fully equipped and maintained by the Auxiliary from 1952 until it closed in 1976.
In 1949, Shriner’s Hospital for Children opened at 633 Wellington Crescent at which time the Auxiliary contributed $5,000 to the hospital. Donations were also made during the first 50 years in upwards of $250,000 in funds and gifts.
The hospital was given to the provincial government in 1977 and was known as the Rehabilitation Centre for Children. At that time, the Auxiliary changed its name from “Ladies Auxiliary to the Shriners Hospital for Children with disabilities” Winnipeg Unit, to a temporary name of “Ladies Auxiliary to Khartum Temple”. In 1978, it was permanently named “Khartum Ladies Auxiliary”. Since this changeover, the Auxiliary has supported other organizations with the main focus of supporting the health and welfare of disabled children.
In 1996, the Auxiliary started to give a personalized tote bag to each child who was travelling to a Shrine Hospital for the first time and continues to this day. Each bag has the child’s name on it and contains age- appropriate books, trinkets, small items of clothing plus toiletries.
Since its inception, the Auxiliary has donated over $750,000 to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Canada, the Khartum Patient Transportation Fund and the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation.