Gala supports Delhi Community Health Centre

Carol Pellart of Tillsonburg, on the left, spins the 2025 Harvesting the Bounty Gala ‘wheel of fortune,’ watched by Delhi Community Health Centre building administrator Lori Yeo. 

Chris Abbott

Editor

Delhi Community Health Centre held its fifth Harvesting the Bounty Fundraising Gala on Oct. 25.

“This event is very important because it allows us to raise funds for ongoing building expenses,” said DCHC Board Chair John Bamford.

In recent years gala funds have been used to modernize the elevator and introduce safer rubberized flooring in the stairwells, and this year, DCHC building administrator Lori Yeo said tile floors need to be replaced in the basement.

The 2024 gala raised nearly $30,000.

“And, of course I am optimistic so I anticipate this year will be even more,” said Yeo, confident the 200 people attending the 2025 gala would come through again.

“It’s a community event to support the Community Health Centre, so we’re here for each other,” said Pat Loncke, member of the DCHC board.

“It’s important to have the health centre here, it saves people from driving out to other facilities,” said Loncke. “Especially for seniors or families with little kids – when they get sick, you want to have a place to go to that’s close by.” 

The Delhi Community Health Centre first opened in Delhi 22 years ago, allowing residents of Delhi and surrounding communities to have direct access to primary healthcare, state of the art equipment, and allied health service providers.

“One of the things that is very important is that this facility is community owned,” said Bamford. “It was built by gracious donations from locals and it belongs to the community. The board of directors basically looks after the best interests of the community, as stewards, and the health centre serves the community in the best way it can.”

Since the health centre’s walk-in clinic expanded to four-day-a-week early in 2025, the number of patients coming into the 105 Main Street building has increased by approximately 50 per cent on a year-over-year basis. By the end of 12 months, that number could be 6,000-6,500 people.

“That’s a lot for Norfolk, which is in need of healthcare,” said Bamford.

The walk-in clinic is open Thursdays 5-8 p.m., Fridays 10-2, Saturdays 9-1 and Sundays (Sept.-May). Call 226-549-4004 ext. 236 to check hours.

Some people might not know it’s open four days a week, he said, thinking it’s still only open two days.

“We’re hoping that more people use it.”

Bamford said an estimated 17,000 people in Norfolk County and area catchment in 2024 were without doctors.

The Delhi Community Health Centre currently has some vacant space in the building they would like to rent to healthcare-oriented tenants.

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On the same night as the DCHC Gala (Saturday, Oct. 25), as the German Home hall was filling up, the Toronto Blue Jays were preparing to play Game 2 of the World Series.

“I imagine there will be a few fans checking their phones,” Bamford smiled.

“One of our dearest friends told me we ‘must be pretty special’ because he’s not at home watching the game,” Yeo laughed.