While Signs for Southlake has raised a much needed $30,000 to help the Newmarket hospital in its battle against COVID-19, it’s the show of support from the community that continues to make “a huge difference” to frontline health-care workers.
“The dollars will make a difference, and even more than the dollars, the reassurance our staff feels every day seeing those signs, I really can’t stress how important that is,” said Tyler Chalk, chief strategy and communications officer for Southlake Regional Health Centre, at a cheque presentation at NewRoads Automotive Group in Newmarket Sept. 2.
Since NewRoads and Neal Brothers Foods launched the initiative last April, local residents and businesses purchased about 500 lawn signs to show their gratitude to health-care and essential workers, while also raising money for Southlake’s COVID-19 Action Fund.
Deputy Premier and Newmarket-Aurora MPP Christine Elliott lauded the two companies for partnering to support “our crown jewel of health care here in Newmarket-Aurora who are doing an amazing job to heal people who have COVID-19 and set them back on the path of health and well-being.”
“This is huge for them,” she said of the donation toward protective equipment and other equipment needed during the pandemic.
Elliott presented certificates recognizing the contributions of both companies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is happening in so many places in Newmarket-Aurora,” Elliott added. “It doesn’t happen like this in every community, I can certainly tell you that. But you really do have the community spirit here, you are helping so many people with this, you are truly saving lives.”
NewRoads president and CEO Michael Croxon credited his friend, Chris Neal, for the suggestion to create the sign campaign, and NewRoads staff took it from there, “delivering signs all over the 905.”
During the pandemic, Croxon said the NewRoads Community Crew has also delivered food to the needy and those in isolation in their homes.
As well, the annual NewRoads LakeRide fundraiser for Southlake became a successful virtual event, resulting in a separate donation last spring, he said.
