By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Northumberland Hills Hospital Auxiliary Chair Selena Forsyth has fallen into an agreeable habit of reporting at hospital board meetings that their two retail operations continue to thrive.
The April meeting was another such occasion, with Forsyth quoting their financial director, who declared “another blockbuster year. Last month the Little Treasure Shoppe had its best month in the nine years I have been tracking finances.”
To offer specific figures for March, the Little Treasure Shoppe (the gift shop located just inside the hospital’s main entrance) grossed $14,114 and Petticoat Lane (the Cobourg thrift store on Munroe Street) grossed $16,019.
This continued success puts them on track to exceed their planned donation to NHH.
Having pledged $225,000 for new privacy curtains to the hospital, they submitted $110,000 toward that in November. Members recently enjoyed a tour to see the new curtains, after which they handed over the remaining $115,000.
Another benefit for the hospital from those thriving retail sites is an adjustment to the planned donation of $185,000 set in last year’s budget, that went up 21% to $225,000. For 2026, the plan is to donate (“drum roll please”) $240,000.
“We are starting the new fiscal year with almost $30,000 in the bank already,” Forsyth stated.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that we will make it.”
Meanwhile, in other Petticoat Lane news, the experiment of Saturday openings from noon to 3 p.m. has been well received by shoppers. This initiative is dependent on sufficient volunteer staffing being available, and that seems to be working well too.
