TOWNSHEND — The COVID-19 pandemic forced the annual Grace Cottage Hospital Fair Day from the Townshend Common to the virtual realm, but the community stepped up and the hospital raised enough money at the 2020 fair to purchase six new hospital Stryker beds.
While Vermont's state of emergency was lifted last month, the hospital is still not taking any chances with the virus.
“While the world is starting to open up again, it's still important to keep everyone as safe as possible,” Grace Cottage spokesperson C.J. King wrote in a news release. “And so, in an abundance of caution, Grace Cottage will hold a mostly virtual Hospital Fair Day again this year.”
King says many “wonderful and unique” items have already been collected for the online auction, which will run from Sunday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug. 8 at 32auctions.com/GraceCottageFairDay.
Last year's white elephant sale on Eileen Fahey's porch across the street from the hospital (108 Townshend Rd.) was a big hit, and King said it will be offered again this year through July.
Grace Cottage will host a small in-person Fair Day on the Townshend Common on Saturday, Aug. 7, with live music, food and pies, and t-shirts and hats for sale.
“All of this is important for raising much-needed money to update hospital equipment and infrastructure,” said King.
For more information, visit gracecottage.org or call 802-365-9109.