Tree of Hearts Campaign ready to glow once again
Jesse Bonello - Staff Writer
The Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) Foundation is excited for the 22nd year of the annual Tree of Hearts Campaign.
The campaign, which is sponsored by SLMHC and the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, provides an opportunity for community members to remember or honour loved ones through purchasing decorative lights.
“This is our 22nd year of fundraising for the Tree of Hearts. It’s a campaign that runs from the New Year until Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14). What we do is ask people to purchase a light at the cost of ten dollars each to put on trees that we have here in the courtyard at the Meno Ya Win Health Centre. We also ask the town to light the trees downtown at Centennial Park for us. It’s a fundraiser to purchase needed equipment at the health centre,” explained Rita Demetzer, SLMHC Foundation representative.
“We set a goal every year of raising $10,000, and that assists the health centre in purchasing needed equipment,” said Demetzer.
“With the amount that we’re raising, we’re looking at various different things…Such as items for the operating room suite, we can purchase needed beds, IV monitors, and this year we’re hoping to purchase a bilirubin (light). It’s a bilirubin light and blanket that babies who are born with jaundice require so they can get past that,” she continued.
Since the campaign began the community has helped raise over $80,000 dollars to purchase needed equipment.
Demetzer has been pleased, and is thankful, for the ongoing support over the years.
“The support has been good. We’re pleased with the support we receive on a yearly basis…The foundation is very grateful for the support they’ve received over the past 22 years from the members of the community and the businesses in supporting the foundation and the health centre by the donations to this campaign,” she concluded.
The lights will be up, and will stay lit, during the week of Feb. 14. Lights can be purchased at the SLMHC front desk.
For further information, people can call 737-7997.
