DESIRÉE DECOSTE

STAFF WRITER

A group of local farmers representing the local Dairy Producers and their families presented the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) with a second donation to help Back the Build at a gathering at Prinzhaven Farms on Gilead Road in Bloomfield

AJ deBoef, chairperson of the Prince Edward County Dairy Producer committee presented a $5,000 gift to PECMHF Executive Director Shannon Coull and members of the Back the Build Campaign Cabinet. This is the second donation the Dairy Producers have made to help build Prince Edward County’s new hospital. The Dairy Producers gave $18,000 in November of 2018 and were one of the first groups to step forward with a gift to help Back the Build. This second gift brings their cumulative giving to $23,000 for the new hospital campaign.

“In spite of event cancellations due to COVID-19, like the annual youth hockey Milk Tournament and other sporting events,” said deBoef. “The PEC Dairy Producers recognize we too must pivot along with the rest of our community. As a result, we have decided the best way to continue our local support at this time is to give a donation to the PECMH Foundation’s Back the Build campaign.”

“We are extremely grateful to this special group of farmers for their continued support,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “This gift today from the Dairy Producers and their families is helping shape our County’s tomorrow. This gift will go a long way in helping our hospital’s Care Champions continue to provide exceptional care but in a new, leading edge facility. Your investment today is helping to shape the future of our County so thank you so much.”

The Dairy Producers are deeply committed to supporting the community where their families have worked and lived for generations. This is why the group decided to once again invest in the future of health care in the County, to ensure the hospital is available for many years to come. There are 30 Dairy Producers in Prince Edward County.

“Communities coming together during these difficult times is more important than ever. The Dairy Producers and our families are happy to support the PECMH Foundation as they work to meet their goal for the Back the Build campaign. We know we will all benefit from having a new hospital, close to home,” said committee member Phil Prinzen. “This is just a small way to give back and thank the community, to thank our health care teams and everyone who supports the buying of Canadian dairy products.”

Thanks to the Paul B. Helliwell Foundation, the gift from the Dairy Producers will be matched two to one, thus tripling their impact.

“The generosity of the Dairy Producers is not only a reflection of the kindness and compassion shown toward the community they call home, but also demonstrates the importance of this project,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign co-chairperson. “Gifts from local groups, like the Dairy Producers, speak to the importance of community involvement and the impact it has on the quality of care for those residing in and visiting our County and who use our hospital. We are so thankful to the dairy farming community for their support and interest in the future of our hospital.”

The Back the Build campaign continues to be a project on the moo-ve as the foundation is within $800,000 of reaching its $16.5 million goal to build the new hospital.

For more information on the PECMHF or to donate to Back the Build please visit https://pecmhf.ca

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