Art at Rest will benefit hospital helicopter pad

 HAMLIN TWP. – The Memorial Medical Center Volunteer Board will hold its third annual Art at Rest exhibit and live auction this Sunday beginning at noon at Lincoln Hills Golf Club. The event will feature several decorated Adirondack chairs and reconditioned hand painted cottage chic furniture that will be up for auction, along with several other items.

Money raised during the event will go towards paying for a helicopter landing pad at the hospital. Currently helicopters must land at Mason County Airport, causing a delay of many minutes in patient care and transport. Funds will also help pay for a patient consultation room planned for the new emergency department.

There are over 120 volunteers who donate their time to the hospital.

“We have volunteers in every department,” said Mary Hoffman of the volunteer board. “This event is our major fundraiser. Last year we raised $18,000 and this year our goal is to raise even more. The board has pledged $125,000 towards the helicopter pad and the consultation room.”

Terry Greer, also of the volunteer board, said the Art at Rest auction has been very popular in the past two years. “Most of the chairs are painted by local artists as are the cottage chic items. We also have a quantity of vintage flower pots that came from the former PM Floral. They were donated by Beads and Blooms, which bought the business.”

Highlighted silent auction items include a social membership to Lincoln Hills, a casino getaway and a sailing on the S.S. Badger.

Admission is $20 which includes dors d’oeuvres, deserts and entry to win a decorated Adirondack chair; winner does not need to be present to win.

Auction items can be viewed at Lindsay’s Furniture in Ludington, Gardner’s Folly in Pentwater and Marilyn’s Style Inc. in Pentwater.

Sponsors include Lincoln Hills, House of Flavors, Urka Auto Center, Marilyn’s Style, Sodexo, Beads and Blooms, Dr. Nizar and Zelal Umran and FloraCraft. Tickets can be purchased at the Memorial Medical Center gift shop, Best Choice Market, Snyder’s Shoes in Ludington and Gardner’s Folly in Pentwater.

“We as a volunteer board really believe in this hospital,” said Greer. “We have outstanding doctors and a great clinical staff. This hospital serves the entire area and it is important to each and every one of us. We believe this fundraiser is just a small way of showing our support of this facility.”