Two of Stawell's largest health services have received a generous donation with a cheque for $15,000 presented to Stawell Regional Health and Eventide Homes on Friday.
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The Bookworm Gallery and Opportunity Shop has again delivered crucial funding to the town's health care services thanks to the tireless work of their volunteers and support from customers far and wide.
Eventide Homes chief executive Gary Simpson said the $15,000 donation was a "beautiful gesture".
"Thank you so much and we will put this to great use," he said.
"It is not going to go into administration cost or anything like that.
"I have always been a believer that wherever I have worked that any donations or anything philanthropic must go towards making the lives of the people we look after better."
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Stawell Regional Health chief executive Kate Pryde guaranteed the donation would be used on their health care services.
"We will come up with some ideas and we will get back to you and you can choose what option you would like the money spent," Ms Pryde told the volunteers.
"It is important the money goes towards something that suits you and benefits the community too.
"Thank you very much and again we guarantee that it will stay in Stawell."
Earlier in 2021 the Bookworm Gallery and Opportunity Shop also donated $15,000 cheques to Stawell Regional Health and Eventide Homes.
Ms Pryde said the previous $15,000 had been spent to improve and include a continence facility and services for pregnant women in the region.
Bookworm Gallery and Opportunity Shop manager Cherelle Nicholson said she was delighted to be able to make such large donations again in 2021.
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"It has blown me away," she said.
"It is important to give back to the community and it blows me away that we can give away that much money."
Ms Nicholson said during COVID lockdowns they have not needed to pay rent, which has helped with their costs.
She also said donations and shopping at the store have been at their highest levels ever.
"People couldn't wait to get out and spend," she said.
"We have lost some volunteers and we are looking for at least two more to join.
"We are full of donations and we can't accept anymore at the moment.
"I think the new location is helping us a lot and we are getting lots of travellers and tourists through the door as well.
"I'd like to thank all the volunteers, they are so valuable. And I'd like to thank the public for their donations and their support."
Ms Nicholson also said the Bookworm Gallery and Opportunity Shop had raised enough funds to donate $1000 to a family battling cancer and $150 to the Stawell Angling Club to fund the junior club's trophies.
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