The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation (CKHAF) is celebrating another show of community generosity as the Sydenham District Hospital Auxiliary presented a cheque for $35,000 this week toward the Our Hospital, Our Future Wallaceburg Site Redevelopment Campaign.
The Sydenham Current caught up with Serendipity Gift Shop Manager Mary Van Damme, CKHA Foundation CEO Christine Mitchell and CKHA CEO Adam Topp, to discuss the donation.
The presentation took place October 15 at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s Wallaceburg Site, with Auxiliary members joining hospital leadership.
“This incredible group of volunteers continues to go above and beyond for their community,” Mitchell added. “Their commitment and generosity are a reflection of the heart and spirit of Wallaceburg. Every dollar they raise through the Serendipity Gift Shop helps strengthen local healthcare and move us closer to a bright, sustainable future for our hospital.”
The $35,000 donation marks the second installment of the Auxiliary’s three-year, $100,000 pledge, announced in July 2024. Funds raised through the volunteer-run Serendipity Gift Shop are directed to the Wallaceburg Site Redevelopment Fund through CKHAF.
“Support from groups like the Sydenham District Hospital Auxiliary is absolutely vital,” Mitchell added. “This project represents the future of care in Wallaceburg: a modern, efficient, and welcoming hospital that will serve the community for generations. We’re so grateful for the Auxiliary’s leadership and for every person who shops at or donates to the gift shop, because their kindness truly makes a difference.”
The Our Hospital, Our Future Wallaceburg Redevelopment Campaign is a $9 million fundraising effort supporting the community’s share of the project. It will help bring to life a 20,000-square-foot redevelopment and expansion at CKHA’s Wallaceburg Site, featuring a new emergency department, inpatient beds, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, ambulatory care clinics and other essential services.
The campaign follows recent milestones at the Wallaceburg Site, including the completion of a new replacement power plant in 2022 and a medical daycare facility in 2023. Together, these projects aim to ensure that high-quality, accessible care remains in Wallaceburg for decades to come.
Donations to the Our Hospital, Our Future campaign can be made online at www.lovewallaceburg.ca, by phone at 519-436-2538, or in person at the CKHA Foundation offices in Chatham or Wallaceburg.
