Every October, Parksville Thrifty Foods joins its sister stores and donates a dollar from the sale of every pumpkin to the local hospital foundation.
“We love to take any opportunity we get to support charitable organizations,” said Parksville store manager Doug Riederer.
The local store recently joined the Long Wood Station, Brooks Landing and Port Place Mall locations in Nanaimo donating a total of $4,138 to the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation.
The Parksville store contributed $1,427, which will go toward the purchase of medical equipment at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) which is the community hospital for the central Island and the referral hospital for all communities north of the Malahat.
The foundation raises funds for specific projects and supports the purchase of equipment upgrades and replacements.
Dan Zapotichny, Thrifty Foods manager at Long Wood Station said, “It is with our customers’ help that this donation is possible. We give because everyone uses the hospital, if we can help make it an even better place, with better equipment we will. I cannot think of a greater target for our donation.”
Brenda Rositano, of the foundation noted, “This donation means that customers have generated more than $42,000 in pumpkin proceeds alone. Not only does Thrifty Foods help our hospital, but they help every hospital, in every region they do business. This dedication is very appreciated by not-for-profit organizations and the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation is extremely grateful for this ongoing support.”
