Who knew a little shopping could be so key to saving lives?

No need to tell that to members of the Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild, who on Dec. 11 celebrated a milestone for the ages.

The group, which runs the all-volunteer thrift shop at the corner of Second Avenue and Bell Street, raised a record $31,109, a donation that will help pay for monitors and defibrillators to equip Clallam County Fire District 3 ambulances and fire engines.

The guild’s donations, Fire District 3 Chief Ben Andrews said, are vital to the fire district.

“This helps us to do better than to get by,” Andrews said. “It helps us continue to stay on the front edge of technical training and helps us maintain top of the line equipment.”

The equipment the fire district will purchase, Andrews said, is mostly for cardiac emergencies but also has the capability to detect carbon monoxide levels.

“We can make better decisions in the field,” Andrews said.

With about 50 members and guests in attendance last Friday at the guild’s Christmas luncheon at Sequim’s St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, club president Jean Janis made the announcement about this year’s efforts along with another special milestone: the guild has topped the $2 million mark since the nonprofit guild’s inception in 1970.

In all, the guild has raised $2,033,625, which has gone to support a number of health-related organizations across the community (see box).

“It’s a great accomplishment,” Janis said. “It’s a thrill to (donate).”

The thrift shop is open weekdays and two Saturdays per month.

“We’re just a nice, little shop,” Janis said. “People are definitely taking advantage of it. It’s high quality merchandise and a nice location. The idea that it all stays here, it all goes back to the community (helps raise funds).”

The Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild has about 85-100 active members.

In May of each year, the guild holds a luncheon/fashion show and silent auction open to the public and presents its gifts to Peninsula College’s School of Nursing, the Olympic Medical Center and the Dungeness Health and Wellness Clinic. Guild members also host a Speaker Series in conjunction with their monthly guild business meetings on the fourth Tuesday of every month, also at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Each December, the guild celebrates funds raised for Fire District 3, which comes from thrift shop revenues and dollars raised by a group called “Cards For Cardiacs,” whose members play bridge for fundraising.

The guild always is looking for new volunteers to help work at the shop (204 W. Bell St.) to help sell donated and consignment items, group publicity chairman Addie Curtis said.

Because the average age of the group’s volunteers is in the 70s, attrition is their biggest problem, Curtis said.

Contact the group at 683-7044 for more information.