Grocery chain Save-On-Foods has donated $15 million to B.C. Children’s Hospital to establish a storefront immunization clinic.
The gift includes over $10,000 in proceeds donated by shoppers at the Ladysmith location in Coronation Mall.
Manager Craig Lee said local money is from the stores roundups at the till, and the spinning wheel.
“It’s our shoppers who are so generous,” he said. “I think they recognize the value in supporting an organization like BCCH and the important of what BCCH does for our province.”
Last year, 86,000 children and youth were treated at the Vancouver hospital.
The goal of the new clinic is to improve immunization rates among children, including those with complex medical conditions.
Part of the donation will also fund urgently needed medical equipment.
“I think it’s fantastic. You get all these kids in the lower mainland and they may not have access to that,” Lee said.
According to the hospital, the clinic will be located in the ambulatory care building and has the potential to provide thousands of immunizations annually when it opens in the fall of 2017.
“I think it’s a common goal that we can all look towards as saying this is one of the good ones.”