After a year-long fundraising campaign, Vince's Market has donated more than $25,000 to support mental health at Southlake Regional Health Centre.
Representatives from Vince's presented the cheque for $25,812 to Southlake in a socially distanced get-together outside it Sharon store. The funds will support the Better Begins Today campaign at the Newmarket hospital, which aims to build a new emergent mental health assessment unit and a new 12-bed adult in-patient unit.
“Thanks to Vince’s Market 2021 community product initiative, Southlake Foundation is closer than ever to achieving the $7.5-million goal of our mental health campaign,” said Jennifer Ritter, president and CEO of the foundation. “We are deeply grateful to Vince’s Market, its committed employees and generous customers for recognizing the importance of elevating mental health care for Southlake’s communities.”
To date, the foundation has raised $6.5 million, or 86 per cent of its goal, with the donation from Vince's helping them reach that point.
The independent grocer and its customers raised the funds through an annual campaign that supports charitable organizations and causes. Certain products are identified as the "community product" for that week and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of that product goes to the campaign.
“We are thrilled with the amount raised in 2021, and with the success of this program as we enter our fifth year – thanks to our customers, staff and vendors,” said Giancarlo Trimarchi, partner at Vince’s in a news release. “The community product initiative has so far raised approximately $83,000 over the past four years, and we expect continued, strong support in 2022.”
For this year's campaign, they will continue to support mental health initiatives by raising money for the Canadian Mental Health Association - York Region and South Simcoe (CMHA YRSS).
Vince's said they take mental health very seriously, especially among youth, which is why they want to raise funds for CMHA YRSS.
“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, isolation and disruption of school, workplaces and social recreation are exacerbating this mental health crisis. We are grateful for this year-long partnership with Vince’s Market, which is raising much needed funds to support MOBYSS and increase awareness within our community about this unique and lifesaving service for youth," Rebecca Shields, CEO of CMHA YRSS, said.
The MOBYSS bus delivers mobile, walk-in mental health services to youth throughout the community. This year's community product campaign will support this program directly.
