With seven rooms fully paid for, new furniture has begun arriving at the Bignucolo Residence - the Chapleau area's only long-term care residence. The Caring Project, launched in December 2016, has been fundraising to see each of the twenty-five long-term care rooms refurnished. This will give community members living in long-term care a safer and more comfortable place to live.

The Chapleau General Hospital Foundation is very grateful to the donors who have made refurnishing the first seven rooms possible. It costs a full $7,100 to refurnish an entire room and several donors have given the full amount. Our thanks to the previous Chapleau Northern Pike Ice Fishing Derby committee who sponsored two rooms. The Chapleau Rotary Club also generously sponsored two rooms with proceeds from the 2017 Pike Ice Fishing Derby. Special thanks as well to Dr. Doris Mitchell who sponsored an entire room. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4108 which represents our community's hospital staff also kindly sponsored a room.

The seventh room was paid for with over 80 donations ranging from $5 to $1,500. Every contribution helps us closer to the goal of giving seniors in need of long-term care the best possible place to live within the community they love. The furniture (pictured) began arriving in May 2017. The lower beds are designed to lessen potential falls and each resident will receive a reclining chair, dresser, and bedside table.

You can contribute towards refurnishing more rooms by supporting the ongoing ATV Raffle, our upcoming Yard Sale, and the annual Vacation Raffle which will launch in the fall. For more information on The Caring Project and the Chapleau General Hospital Foundation go to www.sschs.ca, call 705-864-3053, email foundation@sschs.ca, or find us on Facebook.