"Just Us" Angels Lighting the Way

Shown from back left – Just Us members Hattie Smith and Bonnie Burris; from front left - Marjorie Fisher (Just Us), honoree Elsie Burris, and Gordon Jackson of the Foundation’s Light the Way Committee

AMHERST, NS (November 23rd, 2009) – The Just-Us Group has honored Elsie Burris as one of its long-standing members by having a Light the Way Guardian Angel named in her honor in addition to other angels being sponsored in memory of past group members.   “We wanted to honor one of our founding members this year as our guardian angel,” said Marjorie Fisher, “she was involved back when the Linden’s Women’s Institute was formed in 1947 which eventually became the current group Just Us.”

Each year the Cumberland Health Care Foundation’s “Light the Way!” campaign seeks to raise funds for new or replacement hospital equipment.  This year the goal is to raise $71,000 to provide for three (3) new beds for the Intensive Care Unit and a portable ventilator for the Respiratory Therapy Department at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre.

Burris a former junior high school teacher began her teaching career in her early 20s before stopping to raise her family.  She later resumed teaching in Amherst once her youngest child was out of school.  “It was the thing a lady would do,” said Burris, “your family always came first.  But I liked teaching and once my youngest was finished school I went back to teaching.”

“Just Us” was organized in 1992 with 14 members and a purpose to bring women of the area together for fellowship, education and service.   From 1994, until the new regional hospital was completed, the group provided small comfort items for various patients from the very young to seniors.   Later as the group progressed they began to assist with funding for medical equipment for the regional hospital. 

This year a total donation of $2000 was raised by group members selling raffle tickets and hosting community fairs and other activities during the year.

Although the official launch night of this year’s “Light the Way!” event was cancelled due to H1N1 concerns, all lighted ornaments will still be officially turned on the evening of Wednesday, December 2nd and remain on until January 3rd.

“We’ll still be able to provide the music and lighting show each night for patients, their families, and visitors,” said the Foundation’s Managing Director Joe Gauthier, “it’s a warming of the heart to know that it’s a bit of comfort for them during the holiday season as each lighted ornament is in remembrance of someone special.  It truly does light the way for those who must remain in hospital each holiday season.”