A local antique shop has raised thousands of dollars for two hospitals that helped one of its youngest family members get a good start in life.
Antiques on 11 owner, Ralph Lauer, said his grandson, Hunter, required lengthy stays at Mount Sinai Hospital and Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) neonatal intensive care units (NICU) after he was born in 2020.
“He came into the world two pounds, four ounces … but (now) he's a healthy, 40-pound little kid running around with a smile on his face at 100 miles an hour,” Lauer told OrilliaMatters.
Since his grandson’s time in the hospital, a section of Lauer’s business — Hunter’s Room — has raised funds for the two hospitals, with all proceeds from antiques in the room going to support their NICUs.
This year, Hunter’s Room raised $8,700, to be split between the two hospitals, and Lauer said the campaign has raised around $25,000 total to date.
"I was shocked how much we've given so far, and it's a nice surprise," Lauer said.
The room is stocked with antiques supplied by the business’s 45 vendors, as well as family and friends — an idea that Lauer credits his son with bringing to the business.
“We started Hunter’s Room, and it's just a bunch of antiques we had, and a bunch of antiques that — once the vendors found out what we were doing in here — they all wanted to contribute,” he said.
Lauer said he didn’t expect Hunter’s Room to gain so much support, from both his vendors and the community.
“It's just a really nice thing. We didn't expect it to jump as much as it did,” he said. “But, you know, there are vendors come in and help us out … so that's really nice when that happens.”
Perry Esler, OSMH Foundation President and CEO, said support from the community helps the hospital provide the “best care possible.”
"Support from our incredible local businesses helps Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital provide the best care possible to our community,” Esler said. “We thank the Antiques on 11 staff and supporters for this wonderful gift.”
