PICTON, April 10, 2024 – A Picton grocery store has again shown what partnership in action looks like by giving residents and visitors a chance to give to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s (PECMHF) Back the Build campaign.

Metro Inc. has proudly announced a donation of $15,043 from the cash register round-up promotion held between July 27, 2023, and August 12, 2023. This gift brings the four-year total raised to $65,525.84. Metro Inc. has also committed to holding the same fundraiser again this summer.

In making this multi-year commitment to the PECMH Foundation, Metro builds on the local business community's long-standing support for the PECMH Foundation. Metro’s head office and the employees working at the Picton store continue to define ‘exceptional’ with their amazing acts of kindness and leadership for this important campaign to build and equip a hospital in Prince Edward County.

“Metro embodies the spirit of generosity that defines our County,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “This wonderful contribution to our new hospital demonstrates this store’s dedication to our community. Thank you to Metro, Murray Lupenette, and his entire team for working hard to raise these funds for a fourth year.”

The store’s summer campaign also included a barbecue for the fundraiser wrap-up. Staffed by the Picton Firefighters Association, the barbecue added $628.00 to the total raised.

This support from Metro will directly impact the future of healthcare delivery in Prince Edward County by supporting priority equipment purchases needed for the new hospital, such as a digital mammography machine and CT Scanner. The grocery retailer is thrilled to extend their partnership with the PECMH Foundation.

“Metro is proud to continue to host this in-store fundraiser that engages both residents and visitors to Prince Edward County,” said Murray Lupenette, store manager at Picton Metro. “As for money raised last summer, I give all the credit for this donation to the store employees and our generous and loyal customers. Together, they raised the money at the registers, and those contributions will stay with their community. We also want to thank the Picton Firefighters Association for volunteering their time to staff the barbecue on the last day of the campaign.”

“Thank you to Metro for their commitment to community building. This gift will help transform care for our family, friends, neighbours, and visitors to Prince Edward County,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson. “Metro’s leadership is another excellent example of the collaborative effort underway across Prince Edward County to equip our new hospital with leading-edge equipment. We could not achieve this goal without support from the community and corporate partners like Metro.”

“As we move closer to shovels going into the ground, the impact of the Back the Build campaign has been felt deep in the hearts and homes of the local community we serve,” said Paul Jones, assistant store manager of Picton Metro. “I am proud of Metro’s incredible staff team and thankful to our customers for their generosity.”

Plans are underway for a 96Ksqft hospital with design potential for 23 in-patient beds. The new hospital will have leading-edge infection control and ventilation, wider halls for modern medical equipment, and larger patient rooms equipped with smart technology.

The emergency department will be equipped with the latest technology and staffed with our skilled and dedicated healthcare professionals. Inside its walls will be a suite of clinics to provide endoscopy and dialysis treatment, among other medical services. Based on current timelines, the new hospital will be completed in 2027, with shovels going into the ground this summer. More information can be found by visiting www.pecmhf.ca.

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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Photo: Pictured at PECMH from left: Chris Gillespie, Metro’s district manager; Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson; Murray Lupenette, store manager of the Picton Metro; Barbara McConnell, chairperson of the PECMH Foundation and Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation.