The Bloomfield Hospital Auxiliary has been able to make Christmas a little brighter for patients in the Bloomfield Hospital wards thanks to the generosity of Ashcroft’s IGA Let’s Make Better.

Preparing to distribute over $8000 worth of gift cards to patients at the hospital, the Auxiliary approached a number of businesses for assistance, but without any success, said President of the Bloomfield Hospital Auxiliary, Tania O’Donahue.

“But after approaching Rochelle Ashcroft from Aschcroft’s IGA, she has pledged $500 worth of gift cards to our Christmas Gift Card program,” a very grateful Tania said.

“She was even on holiday, and she called back. We had a chat, and she was happy to help us!”

The Bloomfield Hospital Auxiliary has been supporting patients and staff of the hospital for more than 40 years, buying everything from a fish pond, sensory garden, and pool tables to boxing bags, bicycles, PlayStations, chocolate eggs every Easter, and gifts at Christmas.

“We give every member on the Bloomfield campus a $50 gift card every Christmas so they can contribute to their household Christmas, or they can buy themselves a gift to the value of fifty dollars,” Tania explained, thanking Rochelle and Ashcroft’s IGA for their generosity.

Rochelle Ashcroft said they are always happy to help local causes where they can and added that this Christmas, there have been more people than ever reaching out for assistance.

In the past week, Rochelle said they have passed on $4,000 raised through IGA’s Community Chest program to Riding for the Disabled Orange, $4,000 to the Country Education Foundation, $1,000 for FoodCare Orange, and a donation to the Orange Baptist Church for Christmas hampers for those in need.