Penticton's Barley Mill, Santa donate to SOS Medical Foundation

The South Okanagan Similkameen (SOS) Medical Foundation recently received a generous donation from the man in red.

The Barley Mill Brew Pub hosted an Awesome Santa Family Photo event at the brewery, located at 2460 Skaha Lake Rd., on Dec. 7 with Penticton’s infamous Gary Haupt, also known as “naughty Santa.”

In a Facebook post on Dec. 12, the Barley Mill announced the event raised $500, with owner Andy Virk matching donations for a $1,000 contribution to the foundation.

“The deepest gratitude to Gary Haupt (aka Awesome Santa) for being so amazing with every ‘little’ and ‘big’ kid you encounter,” reads the post. “It takes a heart to fill that suit, and it fits you well.”

The SOS Medical Foundation is in the midst of its annual Tree of Dreams fundraiser, which historically raised funding to provide medical equipment for the recent expansion at the Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH).

With the expansion concluded, the fundraiser shifts to two new goals.

According to John Moorhouse, development and communications officer, funds donated by Oliver and Osoyoos area residents to the Tree of Dreams contribute to the emergency department upgrade at the South Okanagan General Hospital.

Donations to the fundraiser from Penticton and South Okanagan Similkameen residents go to purchasing a mammography machine, a second hip surgery table, an electroencephalogram (EEG) unit and colonoscopy scopes for PRH.

For more information about the foundation or to donate, call 250-492-9027 or visit www.sosmedicalfoundation.com.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

Jordyn Thomson | Reporter

JordynThomson