The Minden Health Care Auxiliary will be pounding the pavement in the downtown on Friday (July 10) for its 25th annual tag day fundraising event.
Every summer, the volunteer group establishes checkpoints outside major businesses in Minden, accepting donations used to purchase needed items at the Minden Health Hub and Hyland Crest long-term care home.
This year, members will be stationed at Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, Dollo’s Foodland, Easton’s Valu-Mart, Home Hardware and Boshkung Social from 8 a.m. to around 4:30 p.m.
“This is all about doing our part and bringing some money in to improve health care services in the community,” said longtime auxiliary member, Cecille Gibbons. “We get a capital list from Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) every year and our goal is always to see how much we can help them.”
Last year, the auxiliary brought in around $7,500 – a new single-year record. While cash donations are accepted, people can also give via machine, Gibbons confirmed.
Money from 2025 was used to purchase equipment for the gynecology clinic, which opened last year. Funds also filtered through to long-term care and HHHS’ adult day program, which runs three times per week in Minden.
Since launching tag day in 2000, the auxiliary has directed more than $450,000 to HHHS. Gibbons said that’s important given how little support the local hospital gets from the province for equipment purchases, upgrades, and program enhancement.
“We have to, as a population, support our health care system in Ontario. There’s just so much need that is not provided by the government, unfortunately. The province provides money for the bricks and mortar whenever something is approved, but everything else required to run the space generally comes from the community,” Gibbons said.
This year’s funds will be used to purchase a new wound cart, which HHHS staff use to deal with patients suffering from cuts, scrapes and bed sores. A hot-holding unit for Hyland Crest, which keeps food warm for residents, and a puree machine are also on the wish list.
While the money the auxiliary raises stays in Minden, Gibbons said the purchases they make free HHHS up to direct funds to other projects around the County. “So this is a win for everyone,” she said.
The group is also selling tickets for its fall ‘wine on wheels’ initiative. Volunteers will be at the Minden farmers market Sept. 26 selling tickets. People can also stop by the gift shop at the Minden Health Hub for them – it’s open Tuesday to Thursday from noon to 3 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The winner will take home a wheelbarrow, valued at $150, filled with 48 bottles of wine. Gibbons said the draw will take place at the end of the Sept. 26 farmers market.
