Community garage sale Backs the Build

Pictured at the cheque presentation to the hospital, from Wellington on the Lake, from left, are: Rick Stevens, WOTL vice-president; Briar Boyce, senior development officer with the PECMH Foundation; Kevin Flynn, WOTL director of special projects; Nancy Parks, chairperson of the Back the Build campaign; Andy Mackenzie, WOTL treasurer; and Doug Henderson, WOTL president.

Creative fundraising initiatives that local businesses and community members host raise more than $100,000 annually, on average, for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital, said
Nancy Parks, chairperson of the Back the Build campaign.

“These third-party fundraisers, like the Wellington on the Lake garage sale, help provide the best quality and safest patient care possible.” The WOTL event has been held for more than 20 years at the clubhouse.

Kevin Flynn, director of special projects and coordinator of the community garage sale, presented $1,500 to Parks. The funds will be invested in the new hospital to support major equipment purchases such as a computerized tomography (CT) scanner, digital mammography equipment, and environmental sustainability enhancements.

“Since many WOTL residents rely on our County hospital for care, the garage sale committee felt a portion of the proceeds should be made to Back the Build for our new hospital, which not only helps WOTL residents, but benefits everyone in Prince Edward County,” said Flynn.

The garage sale at WOTL historically raises funds to support residents’ activities and contributes to improvements to the property.
The WOTL Garage Sale is a huge undertaking that takes place over three days. It requires about 100 volunteers to set up and accept donations on the Thursday and Friday before the sale, work the sale on Saturday, and then clean up. Items left over were divided among local not-for-profit organizations.

“The garage sale couldn’t have been accomplished without the generosity of our incredible community and the 100+ volunteers who provided their time over three days. We involve as many people as we can and try to do the best we can with what we receive,” said Flynn. Though the garage sale is a lot of hard work, the volunteers feel satisfied making it fun for each other, making new friends, and pulling the community together for an excellent cause—our hospital.”

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the patients of the people of Prince Edward County and patients of the hospital.