Double your gift of health this holiday season!

bboyce • November 2, 2022

Double your gift of health this holiday season

PICTON, November 2, 2022 – Starting today, all new gifts to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) to help purchase medical equipment will have double the impact.


The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary has generously offered to make a 1:1 match on all gifts donated by the community for medical equipment needed at the County hospital, up to a total of $150,000. This matching gift initiative means that new donations received will be automatically doubled! For every dollar raised, the auxiliary will donate a matching amount from now until January 31, 2023.


“We’re delighted and incredibly grateful for the generosity that has just come forward. Community support is instrumental in advancing health care at our hospital,” said Barbara McConnell, chairperson of the PECMH Foundation. “Having access to a well-functioning hospital nearby is a benefit of living in this community. The auxiliary’s matching donation will have a tremendous impact on the thousands of people who turn to our hospital every year for high-quality medical care and x-ray services. We thank the Auxiliary and the community for their on-going, incredible support!”


Contributions made through this matching gift campaign will ensure Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) has access to leading edge medical devices.


One of the equipment items this matching initiative will help purchase is a new x-ray machine. The foundation is raising $595,000 to purchase this machine. The diagnostic imaging device will be used in the current hospital and will transition into Prince Edward County’s new hospital in 2027.


At PECMH, the x-ray machine is used daily. The team of radiologists and Medical Radiation Technologists (MRT) rely on the current x-ray machine to perform over 8,800 exams each year.


“After more than 14 years and over 120,000 pictures, the current x-ray machine is showing signs of aging and must be replaced. Digital imaging equipment has seen great advances in recent years, and we want to see our hospital stay on top of that technology. The hospital staff also don’t want to have to send our patients to another facility if our equipment breaks down,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation.


X-rays are critical devices that help radiologists, family doctors, orthopaedic and general surgeons. The device allows medical professionals to look into patients’ bodies to determine the cause of an injury, an illness, or to confirm a diagnosis, like cancer or heart issues.


“Making an impact that is meaningful to Prince Edward County residents and visitors is what encouraged the Auxiliary board of directors to make this 1:1 matching donation to help purchase the x-ray machine,” said Cathy Starkey, president of the PECMH Auxiliary. “The Auxiliary is excited to partner with the foundation and support equipment needs for this year. We are deeply committed to providing exceptional health care for the hospital, staff, and our community.”

 

“Members of our community continue to look for unique ways to support our hospital in meaningful and creative ways. It is exceptional and inspiring,” said Coull. “We are so grateful for the Auxiliary’s generous commitment of a 1:1 matching donation. This gift serves as a reminder of how community-minded we are in Prince Edward County, working together to keep our hospital well equipped and guarantee that healthcare services are available to those who need it for many years to come.”

 

For more information or to double your impact by making a gift, please visit our website at www.pecmhf.ca   or call 613-476-1008 ext. 4502. Donations may also be mailed to PECMH Foundation, 403 Main St., Picton, ON K0K 2T0. When making your gift, please indicate it is for the x-ray machine.

 

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the patients of the hospital and the people of Prince Edward County.

 

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Pictured at the Second Time Around Shop back row from left: Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson; Cathy Starkey, PECMH Auxiliary president; Sally Cowan, Back the Build campaign cabinet member; Auxiliary volunteers Charlotte Harrott; Jennie Kenny; Ken Kish; Kim Harrington; Beth McConnell; Janet Daubney and Barbara McConnell, PECMHF chairperson. Seated at front from left: Auxiliary Volunteers Eugenia Venchiarutti; Sally Margueratt; Pam Strachan, manager of the Second Time Around Shop; Pauline Smith and Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation.

October 31, 2025
BLOOMFIELD, October 28, 2025 – What began as a way to bring isolated people together safely to make cherished holiday memories during the Covid pandemic … grew over 5 years resulting in over 3,000 people (and countless pets) being photographed at ANDARA Gallery’s annual “Holiday Photo in the Barn” event … raising over $35,000 for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation.  Today, Tara Wilkinson and Andrew Csafordi are proud to announce that this beloved program will be transitioning over to The Eddie Farm & Hotel for the 2025 Holiday season … and beyond. “We have loved every minute of our five years hosting this special holiday fundraiser! The program has grown so much and now requires more energy and resources. We couldn’t be more thrilled to hand the reins of this beautiful annual tradition over to the stewardship of Alex Portman and Michael von Teichman at The Eddie Hotel and Farm … the epitome of “Christmas in the County”. We know their team will do a great job continuing this treasured tradition for County residents and visitors in support of our beloved hospital”, said Tara Wilkinson, co-owner of ANDARA Gallery. Artists Tara and Andrew will continue to focus on creating, exhibiting and selling contemporary fine art paintings, photography, digital art and ceramics year-round from their colourful ANDARA Gallery - named one of Ontario’s Top 10 Best Art Galleries by TripAdvisor earlier this year. ANDARA Gallery’s upcoming holiday art show and sale, “LUMINOUS” will run November 15th through December 6th and then December 16th to 23rd from 11 AM to 5 PM. For more information, visit www.andaragallery.com. The 6th Annual “Holiday Photo in the Barn” event will take place at its new location, The Eddie Hotel and Farm located at 15786 Loyalist Parkway (between Bloomfield and Wellington) in Prince Edward County … Thursdays through Sundays between Noon and 6 PM starting on Thursday, December 4th and running through Sunday, December 21st, 2025. The event will now be known as “Holiday Photos at The Red Barn”. Residents and visitors can now make an advance reservation for their group photo time through www.theeddie.ca/holiday-photo-in-the-barn. Guests will check in a Nellie’s Cheese Shop located in The Red Barn where they can make their donation to PECMH Foundation’s “Back the Build” campaign, purchase a snack, hot chocolate, mulled cider and other holiday gifts. You then bring your own fully charged camera and choose from one of 3 photo areas in and around The Red Barn. Eddie staff will be available to assist with taking your photo or you can use one of the iphone camera stands available at each photo location. All they ask in return is for a donation to PECMH Foundation’s “Back the Build” campaign. “We suggest a donation of $10 per group, but a larger donation is welcome if you can afford it, and less is fine if you can’t” says Alex. An income tax receipt will be issued by the PECMHF for all donations over $100. To make your reservation for the 6th Annual “Holiday Photo in the Barn” event at The Eddie Hotel and Farm, go to www.theeddie.ca/holiday-photo-in-the-barn. “We are delighted to be taking over the annual “Holiday Photo in the Barn” event from Tara and Andrew at ANDARA Gallery and bringing it to The Eddie Hotel and Farm. It seemed like such a good fit since our property is already so decorated after The Red Barn Holiday Market - which takes place the last weekend of November each year. We loved the idea of people being able to capture their family memories over the years against the backdrop of “The Eddie”, says says Alex Portman, Co-owner of The Eddie Hotel and Farm. “We are delighted to continue this wonderful tradition of providing such a joyful experience for our community that brings people together to create holiday memories while raising much needed funds for the new hospital,” says Michael Von Teichman, Co-Owner of The Eddie Hotel and Farm. “Thank you to Andrew and Tara of ANDARA Gallery and everyone who has supported this event over the past five years. We look forward to continuing this wonderful holiday tradition with Alex and Mike at The Eddie Hotel and Farm. No matter the size, every donation makes a difference in the care you and your family will receive in our new hospital,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson. “We look forward to everyone coming out to support this festive fundraiser again this year as we work to modernize and enhance health care services to ensure people living in and visiting our community continue to have access to care close to home.” The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the people of Prince Edward County and patients of the hospital. -30- PHOTO CAPTION: (L-R) Holiday Photo in the Barn Founders and ANDARA Gallery Co-Owners, Andrew Csafordi and Tara Wilkinson, celebrate the transition of their annual fundraiser over to The Eddie Hotel and Farm in Prince Edward County with (Centre) Nancy Parks, PECMHF Back the Build Chairperson and (R), the Eddie’s Co-Owners, Michael von Teichman and Alex Portman. Photo Credit: Staff, The Eddie Hotel and Farm.
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