Metro register campaign rounds up $17,000 to help equip County’s new hospital

Pictured at the Picton Metro store surrounded by Metro employees are (at front, from left): Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation; Nancy Parks, Back the Build Campaign Chairperson; Murray Lupenette, store manager of Picton Metro and Paul Jones, assistant store manager of Picton Metro. Briar Boyce photo

Residents and visitors helped the Picton Metro grocery store show what partnership in action looks like to support to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s (PECMHF) Back the Build campaign.

Metro Inc proudly announced a donation of $17,000 from the cash register round-up promotion held between July 28 and Aug. 10. This gift brings the three-year total raised to $50,482.84.

This year’s campaign exceeded last year’s $16,681 donation and the grocer has committed to hold the same fundraiser again next summer.

“Metro’s head office and the employees working at the Picton store continue to define ‘exceptional’ with their amazing act of kindness and leadership for this important campaign to build and equip a hospital in Prince Edward County,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “This wonderful contribution to our new hospital’s $6M equipment campaign demonstrates this store’s dedication to our community. Thank you to Metro, Murray Lupenette, and the entire team for working so hard to raise these funds.”

The store’s campaign also included a barbecue in the parking lot staffed by the Picton Firefighters Association – adding $1,200 to the total raised.

The funds will support priority equipment purchases such as the X-Ray machine and CT Scanner.

“Metro is proud to host this in-store fundraiser that engages both residents of and visitors to Prince Edward County,” said Lupenette, store manager at Picton Metro. “As for money raised this summer, I give all the credit for this donation to the store employees and our generous and loyal customers. Together, they raised the money at the registers and those donations will stay in their community.”

“The impact of this campaign has been felt deep in the hearts and homes of the local community we serve,” said Paul Jones, assistant store manager at Picton Metro. “I am proud of my incredible staff team and thankful to our customers for their generosity.”

Plans are well underway for a 96,000 sq-ft hospital with 20 in-patient beds, leading edge infection control and ventilation, wider halls for modern medical equipment, and larger patient rooms each with their own washroom.

Based on current projected timelines, the new hospital will be completed in 2027. More information can be found by visiting www.backthebuild.ca