County hospital re-names Giving Tuesday ‘Gratituesday’ in thanks to Home Builders’ donation

Pictured on ‘Gratituesday’ at PECMH, from left: Mila Champagnie, representative from Todd Smith’s office, Briar Boyce, senior development officer with the PECMHF, Lawrie Ackerman, administrative assistant for the emergency primary care program at QHC, Cheryl Minaker, RN and team leader of the PECMH Emergency Department and Ruth Estwick, executive officer with the Quinte Home Builders’ Association. At front: MPP Todd Smith and John-Ross Parks, president of the Quinte Home Builders’ Association. – Sue Vincent photo

Tuesday, May 5 is referred to as Giving Tuesday Now in the fundraising world. It is a global day of giving and unity as an emergency response to COVID-19.

Today, the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation chose to rename the day Gratituesday as the Quinte Home Builders’ Association (QHBA) and MPP Todd Smith visited Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital to place lawn signs out front to recognize and thank our health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The signs were placed on behalf of the QHBA’s ‘Truckload of Support’ campaign.

In addition to the personal protective equipment (PPE) the Quinte Home Builders’ have collected and donated to the local hospitals, they have raised $11,500 to-date from about 150 members to be split between the QHC hospital foundations in the coming weeks.

“During this unprecedented time, we all need to come together to make a difference,” said John-Ross Parks, president of the QHBA. “We strongly support the hard work and dedication of our healthcare workers and we want to express our gratitude as much as possible.”