ATHOL – Athol Hospital continues to move forward with building improvements and a decrease in its $3 million fundraising goal from $324,659 last month to $270,000.
Dawn Casavant, Vice President of Development, Chief Philanthropy Officer and Executive Director of the Heywood Healthcare Charitable Foundation said gifts and pledges are still being accepted. “We need the community’s help to move this forward,” she said.
Two new wood benches have been placed outside the main entrance of the hospital. Casavant said anyone who makes a $10,000 pledge per bench will have a plaque with the donor’s name added to the bench.
Casavant reported that renovations of the former emergency department for the new radiology department are now in “full swing.” The former Medical Arts Building behind the hospital has been demolished to make room for additional parking at the Starrett Center for Emergency Care. The new lot is expected to be “coming soon, before the snow flies.”
The Friends of Athol Hospital, which does fundraisers that support hospital initiatives, are looking for new members to help with special projects. The group meets the first Tuesday of every month. Those who are interested are asked to contact Nancy Tatro at 978-413-7107.
The fundraising, rain or shine 3.1 mile family-friendly Heywood Healthy Harvest 5K Run/Walk will be held Saturday, Oct. 26. to support the Handle With Care initiative for children who are exposed to trauma. The Handle With Care program aims to mitigate the effects of trauma, focusing on prevention, education and the tertiary level of support. The course will start and end at Heywood Hospital, 242 Green St., Gardner. Early registration is $27 and closes on Oct. 18. Day of race registration is $32, and youth registration is $15. Children six and under are free. For more information, visit https://www.heywood.org/education/calendar/heywood-healthcare-healthy-harvest-5k.