So, how chilly was it for the fourth annual Taste of Summer event in Tillsonburg on Saturday (May 31)?
It was so chilly that the reptile show had to cancel at the last minute.
To clarify, the event wasn’t hit by freezing temperatures or anything extreme for early June.
But the strong winds made things feel much colder, and with bursts of sunshine, even people needed to wear a light sweater or jacket throughout the day.
Nessa Fulton, 3, gets introduced to Solar, a baby goat, brought to the fourth annual Tillsonburg Taste of Summer fundraising event in support of Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital Foundation on Saturday. Solar was brought to the event, held in Memorial Park on Saturday, by Little Hobby Hill Farm of Salford. Nessa is being held by her cousin, Mya Munroe, 10, while her sister Zoey, 9, waits her turn to pet Solar. Photo by VINCENT BALL /
“We have 38 vendors this year so the event has grown,” Gerry Dearing, the executive director of the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital Foundation, said. “We have lots of activities for the kids, live entertainment; we brought back the beer tent this year and we have the Flying Furballs petting zoo and eight food trucks around the park.
“We were supposed to have a reptile show but it’s too cold for them so that had to be cancelled.”
The event is one of two major outdoor events hosted by the foundation each year to raise funds for equipment purchases for the hospital. The event raised $40,000 last year and they hoped to reach that amount again this year, Dearing noted.
Visitors attending could make a donation upon entering or buy a 50/50 ticket from a draw organized by hospital volunteers.
Gotcha! Alfie, a border collie with The Flying Furballs of London catches a flying disc while his handler, Lily Thomas retrieves him during a demonstration at Tillsonburg Taste of Summer supporting Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital Foundation on Saturday. Photo by VINCENT BALL /
“This is a key fund-raising event for us but it’s more than just that,” Dearing said. “It’s our way of thanking everyone in our community for their support all year long and also brings everyone together for some fun.”
“It’s also an opportunity for us to share what’s happening at their hospital.”
The hospital serves Tillsonburg and nearby areas like Oxford County as well as Delhi, Courtland and Port Burwell. Each year between 22,000 and 25,000 homes receive updates from the foundation.
The foundation meets with hospital officials at the start of each year to find out what equipment they need. After that meeting they kick off various campaigns aimed at raising funds needed.
“Many people don’t realize that while provincial funding covers hospital operations – procedures and staff – diagnostic tools are bought through community-raised funds,” Dearing explained. “Equipment needs constant updating or replacement.”
“It never ends which is why events like this are so crucial.”
The hospital plans to replace all its beds over several years at an estimated cost between $1.2 million and $1.5 million.
This bed replacement program is in addition to other necessary equipment purchases funded through donations collected by the foundation.
Now that Taste of Summer has wrapped up for another year officials are already starting plans for their next big fundraiser – a golf tournament set for September.
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Raya Schoenmakers from Little Hobby Hill Farm in Salford is with Solar, a baby goat featured in the petting zone set up at Memorial Park on Saturday during Tillsonburg’s fourth annual Taste of Summer fundraising event supporting Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital Foundation. Photo by VINCENT BALL /
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Gotcha! Alfie, a border collie with The Flying Furballs of London catches a flying disc while his handler, Lily Thomas retrieves him during a demonstration at Tillsonburg Taste of Summer supporting Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital Foundation on Saturday. Photo by VINCENT BALL /
“This is a key fund-raising event for us but it’s more than just that,” Dearing said. “It’s our way of thanking everyone in our community for their support all year long and also brings everyone together for some fun.”
“It’s also an opportunity for us to share what’s happening at their hospital.”
The hospital serves Tillsonburg and nearby areas like Oxford County as well as Delhi, Courtland and Port Burwell. Each year between 22,000 and 25,000 homes receive updates from the foundation.
The foundation meets with hospital officials at the start of each year to find out what equipment they need. After that meeting they kick off various campaigns aimed at raising funds needed.
“Many people don’t realize that while provincial funding covers hospital operations – procedures and staff – diagnostic tools are bought through community-raised funds,” Dearing explained. “Equipment needs constant updating or replacement.”
“It never ends which is why events like this are so crucial.”
The hospital plans to replace all its beds over several years at an estimated cost between $1.2 million and $1.5 million.
This bed replacement program is in addition to other necessary equipment purchases funded through donations collected by the foundation.
Now that Taste of Summer has wrapped up for another year officials are already starting plans for their next big fundraiser – a golf tournament set for September.
VballRaya Schoenmakers from Little Hobby Hill Farm in Salford is with Solar, a baby goat featured in the petting zone set up at Memorial Park on Saturday during Tillsonburg’s fourth annual Taste of Summer fundraising event supporting Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital Foundation. Photo by VINCENT BALL /
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