The kindness of the Glen Innes community will lead to the Glen Innes Hospital securing a much valued piece of equipment.
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Poplar Caravan Park and Harry’s Snack Shack owners Angela and Michael Hartard and their staff have raised the $1300 required to purchase a Masimo Rad-5 hand held pulse oximeter through a donation jar at their business with Angela said the idea evolved from their seldom used tip jar.
“We use to have a tip jar but we asked our staff if it was ok if we do the fundraising instead and they were fine with it,” she said.
Mrs Hartard said the majority of the money has come from local people, with visitors at the caravan park also chipping in.
“Some visitors to the park have donated but mainly it’s come from the regulars to the snack shack so the majority of the funds raised have come from local Glen Innes people,” she said.
The fundraising efforts, which took approximately nine months, had to overcome a major hurdle, when a heartless thief broke into the business and stole the jar.
“During the time we were fundraising we did get broken into and the jar was stolen which was very disappointing and we have heard that there is a person going around town bragging about stealing it so I’d hope if the Glen Innes community knows of this person they would treat them how you should treat someone who is proud of stealing a charity jar,” Mrs Hartard said.
“If they were that desperate for money they could have come and asked us if they could wash some dishes or something and had a bit of a job.”
Regardless of the setback, the Hartard’s and their staff pushed on with their efforts and now the figure has been reached the equipment can be purchased for the hospital, and Mrs Hartard is determined that the equipment remain in the local community.
“We are having it engraved with from the people of Glen Innes for the Glen Innes Hospital so that it remains in Glen Innes Hospital.”
“We have approached the hospital again and we are going to have a meeting soon to discuss what piece of equipment we are going to raise money for to buy next.”
“I’d really like to thank everyone who donated for their support over the year,” she said.