The Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild held its annual Christmas appreciation luncehon on Thursday, Dec. 15, in the cozy community hall of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church where it presented a $17,039 check to representatives of Clallam County Fire District 3.

The check was presented to Fire District 3 Fire Chief Ben Andrews, Fire Commissioner James Barnfather and Fire District 3 secretary Pattie Williams.

For more than 20 years, the Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild has held this luncheon to give its annual gift to Fire District 3 and say thank you to its hard-working members.

Adeline Curtis, publicity chairman of the guild, said on top of presenting Fire District 3 with a check that would pay for an auto-pulse machine, a mechanical device that performs CPR compressions, the luncheon is, “our way of saying thank you to all our workers.”

An auto-pulse machine was on Fire District 3’s “wish list” that it submits to the guild every September. Andrews said this machine is beneficial for firefighters and EMTs because, “it’s a more consistent way to perform CPR” and frees up an EMT that might be performing manual chest compressions so he or she is able to do other tasks.

After the check was presented at noon to Fire District 3, a potluck-style luncheon was served with food brought in by guild members and turkey donated by Sunny Farms.

The event concluded with the Sequim High School Select Choir performing for the crowd, starting with patriotic songs and ending with Christmas classics like “Carol of the Bells.”

The SHS choir also received a $200 donation.

The Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild was formed in 1970 and consists of three divisions including membership dues, memorials and donations, Cards for Cardiacs and a thrift shop located on West Bell Street in Sequim.

All of the income generated from these three branches is donated to meet the needs of health and medical organizations in the community, such as Fire District 3, Olympic Medical Center, the Dungeness Health &Wellness Clinic, Helipad, and scholarships to local students studying in medical-related fields.