With a forecasted high of 23 degrees Celsius, July 19 was a warm day for some cool ice cream for Stratford General Hospital staff.
Simple Dreams Ministries, a local organization that has hosted a number of events for the community over the years, parked its Big Scoop ice-cream trailer in the hospital’s parking lot and served up free ice cream for staff that day.
Richard Kneider, who runs Simple Dreams with his wife, Ruth Kneider, explained that after being in Stratford General Hospital numerous times over the years, he once took a tub of ice cream for the nurses and the staff that helped him. Speaking with physician Dr. Shanil Narayan, the idea of expansion came to mind.
“The thought had come to mind some time ago that it would be exciting if we could provide that for the entire staff at the hospital,” he said.
“We just really appreciate the service we have access to,” Ruth Kneider added. “This is a way for us to give back.”
Mark Gibson, corporate lead of volunteer services and student engagement at the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA), further explained that the organization partnered with The Big Scoop to make this day happen and get staff to take a break and enjoy some ice cream and sunshine.
Gibson pointed out that ice cream was also being served to staff of the other HPHA sites that same day: St. Marys Memorial Hospital, Clinton Public Hospital and Seaforth Community Hospital.
Perth-Wellington MP John Nater was there at Stratford general to help the Kneiders scoop. As he said, he’s had some experience in the past when he’s helped out before.
“Richard has taught me a couple of times,” Nater laughed. “There’s a real technique to it. I have not mastered it.”
Richard Kneider disagreed with the local MP, adding Nater is good at serving pizza, something that will come in handy in the next few weeks when Simple Dreams hosts its annual Pizza and Pool Party.
“Believe it or not, this will be about the 14th or 15th year that we’ve been having it,” Richard Kneider said. “We partner with the city – and we’re very, very thankful for that – and with Domino’s Pizza and we just have a free pizza pool party.”
This year, the party takes place on Aug. 5, the civic holiday, and runs from 2:30-4 p.m. at the Stratford Lions Pool.
Families can come down and enjoy a free swim and some pizza, Richard Kneider said. Ruth Kneider added that all they need to bring is their towels and their swimsuits.
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