Armidale’s United Hospital Auxiliary master chefs are celebrating a $24,746 kitchen makeover courtesy of Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation (Charitable Foundation).
The Charitable Foundation grant will ensure the popular Armidale Hospital Kiosk remains fully functional and meets current Workplace Health and Safety (WH&S) requirements.
Acting Chairman of Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation Barrie Lewis said the new refurbishment enabled the Armidale Auxiliary to improve the services offered to patients, staff and visitors.
“Improving the kiosk facilities will allow the Armidale Auxiliary to maintain their highly successful enterprise which contributes a significant amount of financial support to the Hospital,” said Mr Lewis.
“Supporting a project that generates a sustainable and significant benefit to the community is core to the ethos and intent of the Charitable Foundation.
“We are delighted to be able to fund this important service in the Armidale community.”
Funds raised by the Armidale Auxiliary are donated back to the hospital. In the 2011 — 2012 financial year it donated $45,045 toward equipment for the hospital, gifts for mothers who were in hospital on Mother’s Day, morning tea for cancer groups and Christmas presents for patients.
President of the Armidale Auxiliary Judy McGuire said without the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation funding the refurbishment of the kiosk would not have been possible and would not have met current WH&S requirements.
“We cannot express the gratitude we have for the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation funding,” said Ms McGuire.
“For myself and all of the 60 volunteers in the Armidale Branch, working in the kiosk is a gift. To have a new fully functional kitchen is extremely exciting for us. We hope that with the new kiosk we can increase next year’s donation to the hospital.
“In addition to Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation I would also like to thank the tradesmen who worked on the project.”
Local charity and not-for-profit organisations are invited to apply for the next Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation funding round, which closes on Friday October 12, 2012.
The Charitable Foundation distributes more than $1.5 million annually to local not-for-profit organisations in the Hunter, New England, Central Coast, Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast. Since 2004 the Charitable Foundation has provided more than $9 million to more than 230 organisations.
