Perfectly Preserved group peels and pickles its way to record-setting donation
Administrator | Dec 27, 2024 | Comments 3

Perfectly Preserved volunteers Jane Winwood, Denise Linnett, Laura Bryan and Dorothy Speirs (far right) hand over a record-setting donation for hospital equipment to Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary President Susan Quaiff and Past President Cathy Starkey. – Betty Zyvatkauskas photo
Perfectly Preserved wraps up a record-setting 2024 season with its biggest donation to date: the purchase of four items for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital, totalling $32,000. These include a point-of-care system to deliver lab-quality results, and three vital signs wall monitors to help boost care in the emergency department.
“Considering we do it by selling one $10 jar of jam at a time, it is a remarkable achievement for this group of nine retirees,” said Dorothy Speirs, Perfectly Preserved spokesperson. “Tapping into their diverse skill sets, the former pastry chef, banker, writer, professor, home economist, lawyer, software developer, nurse and art restorer have grown what started as a one-day sale, into dozens of markets and special events across the County held from Canada Day in Wellington, to the Milford Fall Fair.”
The busy band of volunteers peeled and pickled its way through 100 pounds of beets, 60 pounds of asparagus and 75 pounds of carrots, plus many bushels of tomatoes, apples, pears and quinces – much of which was donated by local farmers and gardeners – to produce nearly 4,000 jars of preserves.
“All those who donated everything from apples to zucchini deserve thanks for their generosity, as do all the people who so kindly collected and donated their canning jars so they could be cleaned and re-used,” said Speirs.
When hospital construction necessitated a move for the Thanksgiving and Christmas sales, Perfectly Preserved took advantage of the change in venue to the much larger Rotary Hall, at the Picton Fairgrounds. The newly expanded sale included additional products and many hundreds of Christmas cookies – all helping to add up to one delicious year.
In addition to its own fundraising, Perfectly Preserved assisted other organizations with their hospital-themed fundraising by donating baskets full of goodies – including the Teeing Up Fore Health Care Golf Classic and the Prince Edward Curling Club’s Curl-a-Thon, as well as the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary’s Festival of Trees.
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What an amazing group of ladies !
Congrats to all of you for a great Year!! Way to go!!
This mighty band of volunteers are true advocates and donors of time and energy for our hospital. Their tasty items are made with love and we the customers are the beneficiaries. Kudos ladies!