Holiday photographs capture support for County’s new hospital

ANDARA Gallery artists and co-owners Andrew Csafordi and Tara Wilkinson were joined by family, friends and volunteers to present $5,000 from their annual Holiday Photo in the Barn fundraiser to the hospital foundation. Front row, from left, are: Tom Wilkinson; Nancy Parks – Back the Build campaign chairperson; Sally Cowan – Back the Build campaign cabinet member; Csafordi; Liz Moran, Jim Grant, Shannon Coull – Executive Director of the PECMH Foundation; Stacey Daub, President & CEO of Quinte Health; Lise Bowden, and Wilkinson. Back row, from left, are: Helen Morris, Risa Zaleski, Jill Lindeblom and Brenda Wehmeier. Briar Boyce photo

County residents and visitors celebrating the season with a holiday photograph helped raise $5,000 for the campaign to build the new hospital in Prince Edward County.

Spirits were bright at ANDARA Gallery in Bloomfield as artists-owners Andrew Csafordi and Tara Wilkinson presented the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation with the early Christmas gift.

As part of their fifth annual ‘Ode to Joy’ holiday art show and sale, the couple, and a creative crew of family, friends and neighbours, once again festively decorated their century-old barn with a 20-foot Christmas tree from Skootamatta Christmas Tree Farm in Flinton, and welcomed residents and visitors alike for the fifth consecutive year to visit for a “Holiday Photo in the Barn.”

More than 500 individuals, couples, families, work colleagues and groups of friends came to the barn for a photo, raising $5,000 during the fundraiser Nov. 16 to Dec. 8. This brings the five-year total raised to more than $35,000 – with more than 3,000 visitors and pets photographed to date.

New this year was the addition of a Gingerbread Shoppe where visitors could purchase hot chocolate, goodies and artisanal fine craft items made by local artists.

“We were happy to provide such a joyful experience for our community again that brought people together to create happy memories while raising money for the new hospital,” said Wilkinson. “We are indebted to our family, friends and neighbours who helped us with this year’s event … and to the hundreds of people who came to take a festive photo in our beautiful century-old barn. Many happy holiday memories were made here again this season.”

Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson said third-party fundraising events like this one are a wonderful example of how local businesses can turn good fun into big impact.

“Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Holiday Photo in the Barn. Your support makes a big difference and helps us get one step closer to making our new hospital a reality.”

Shannon Coull, executive director, says the PECMH Foundation is grateful to everyone who supported this festive fundraiser again this year “as we work to modernize and enhance health care services to ensure people living in and visiting our community continue to have access to care close to home.”

“Tara and Andrew have created a beautiful County tradition of bringing friends and family together during the holiday season, and they have also been remarkable supporters for Back the Build,” said Stacey Daub, Quinte Health’s president and CEO. “It is incredible to see them build community and their local hospital through joy and connection.”