Orillia Shoppers Drug Mart Stores Raise $8,537 for Women’s Health

Shoppers Drug Mart owners and staff present a cheque for $8,537 to representatives of the Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation to support Women’s Health Programs at the Hospital.
Shoppers Drug Mart owners and staff present a cheque for $8,537 to representatives of the Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation to support Women’s Health Programs at the Hospital.

Local LOVE YOU fundraising campaign most successful to date

Shoppers Drug Mart stores in Orillia are committed to putting women’s health first. Locally, Shoppers stores raised $8,537 to support Women’s Health Programs at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, the result of their annual LOVE YOU fall fundraising campaign. This latest contribution brings the total money raised by Orillia Shoppers Drug Mart stores to an incredible $51,310 for Women’s Health at Soldiers’ since 2010.

Speaking to Shoppers Drug Mart staff, Program Manager of Birthing, Family Services and Paediatrics at Soldiers’, Audra Jesso, expressed her gratitude on behalf of her team. “As we work together, we will use every dollar you helped to raise to maximize the impact of these programs for the women and children who rely on them,” said Jesso. “Even if someone isn’t using the Hospital now, they likely know someone who is, so this support is incredibly valuable and we are very thankful for the partnership of Shoppers Drug Mart.”

The fundraiser centred on the idea of a Growing Women’s Health Tree displayed prominently at participating locations. Customers could purchase a paper icon at the cash register in the form of a leaf, a butterfly, an apple or a bird depending on the amount they chose to donate. The icons were personalized with the name of the donor and placed on the tree during the month-long appeal. This year, the stores also held successful Beauty Mingle events that helped make the fundraiser the most successful LOVE YOU campaign to date.

Christina Chung, owner of the Front St. location expressed her appreciation to the public for their dedication to the cause. “This is a community that we work in and it is their generous support that makes the difference,” she said. “Thank you also to our store’s LOVE YOU campaign captain, Rose, who drove our community donations this year to be our most ever!”

“Supporting Women’s Health is extremely important to us,” said BiQi (Becky) He, owner of the stores on Memorial Ave. and Westmount Dr. “The purpose is incredibly motivating and encourages us to raise more money to support the Hospital.” The annual fundraiser is held each fall at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across the country. Since 2011, more than $68 million has been donated to charitable organizations benefiting women’s health in Canada.