The Minden Health Care Auxiliary is reminding people to remember their wallets while out in the community July 11.
The volunteer group is hosting its annual Tag Day fundraiser on Friday, raising money to support programming and source new equipment for the Minden Health Hub. Longtime member Pat Bradley said this is the auxiliary’s biggest single-day fundraiser of the year.
“We don’t have our ER, but there’s great things going on at the hub. The urgent care clinic is helping a lot of people who don’t have family doctors… there’s a lot of services in this building requiring ongoing support,” Bradley said.
Every year, Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) provides a wish list to the auxiliary outlining things it needs at the Minden site. “We’re able to pick and choose and decide what we want to help with,” Bradley noted.
Last year, the auxiliary invested approximately $30,000 into the facility upgrading its respite room, replacing medical flushers and disinfectors, installing new server cabinets at Hyland Crest, and supporting HHHS’ adult day program. This year, Bradley said they are focusing on funding two new pieces of equipment for the women’s clinic and nutritional software for long-term care.
After raising a record $3,600 through last year’s Tag Day, Monique Perreault, an auxiliary member since 2021, said the group is hoping to eclipse that number. There will be collection spots at Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, Dollo’s Foodland, Easton’s Valu-Mart, Home Hardware, and Stedman’s Department Store from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and at Boshkung Social from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
While cash donations are appreciated, people will also be able to give using their credit cards – a new feature this year. E-transfers are also being accepted at mindenhca@ gmail.com.
Bradley noted all funds raised during the event will stay in Minden. The organization has filtered approximately $360,000 to the MacPherson Street site since 2000.
With around 40 members, Perreault and fellow newcomer Baldish Toor said joining the auxiliary has been a great way to meet people and integrate into the community. The group is looking for new blood, to help with Tag Day, operation of the gift shop at the health hub and other fundraisers, such as its ‘wine on wheels’ raffle – running until Oct. 28.
“This is a great way to give back to the community,” Bradley said. “We need to refresh and come up with ways to bring in even more money… because if the [proposed 91-bed] expansion to long-term care is approved, the government will provide the funds for the building, but it’ll be down to us to stock it with the equipment needed.”
