Brightshores Owen Sound Foundation is turning its annual holiday appeal toward a renewed goal this year, launching a fundraising effort to support new Automatic Dispensing Units (ADUs) for the Owen Sound hospital while celebrating the many “Shining Stars” who brighten local healthcare.
Residents throughout Grey and Bruce will soon receive a mail invitation to recognize someone special by completing a Shining Star card. Those cards, once returned, will be displayed inside the hospital, offering donors a chance to honour a loved one, acknowledge an extraordinary staff member, share encouragement with frontline teams, or convey any message that holds personal meaning.
Money raised through the campaign will help purchase six ADUs for Brightshores Owen Sound Hospital, forming part of a broader system-wide modernization of medication management. The technology is designed to improve patient care by streamlining medication dispensing, ensuring faster delivery, and minimizing errors.
The new units incorporate touchscreens, barcode scanning, and real-time inventory monitoring, allowing emergency medications to be accessed promptly while automatically notifying pharmacy staff when supplies run low. By reducing manual steps, the equipment frees nurses and pharmacy teams to spend more of their time directly supporting patients.
The Shining Stars initiative represents a shift from the foundation’s well-established Guardian Angel campaign, which contributed millions of dollars over several decades but has seen participation diminish in recent years.
"Beyond the slogans, what really matters is the incredible generosity of this community and their support for quality healthcare," said Amy McKinnon, Foundation CEO. "The central pharmacy here at the Owen Sound Hospital distributes nearly 1.5 million medications a year. The ADUs are a central part of doing that safely and efficiently. A donation today will help millions of times over the lifespan of this critical equipment."
Funds raised by the foundation help pay for vital medical equipment, upgrades to hospital facilities, and ongoing training for healthcare professionals.
Those wishing to contribute can do so by mail, online at www.brightshoresfoundation.ca, by calling (519) 372-3925, or by visiting the foundation office located on the hospital’s main floor near central registration.
