"Speechless."

That's the reaction from Fundraising Chair Bob Wahl after receiving a major contribution Monday for the Agassiz Medical Centre's expansion project.

"It's more than I expected at one time... it's going to make an impact that's for sure," he said Monday after the Morden Thrift Store donated $150,000 to the project, effectively doubling their fundraising total.

"We're well on our way," he says, adding every donation is still welcome, no matter the size.

Morden Thrift Store Board President Jean Hildebrand explains, "We're very grateful for the community that supports us the way they do, the volunteers that come out, the donations we receive, the sales, it's all a package, we need all of it to donate funds."

The total expansion cost is pegged at nearly $1.3 million, but the board has undertaken the goal of fundraising $500,000. The added space would allow for the hiring of ten new doctors, helping meet the demand of an estimated 3,000 people without a family physician.

"When we heard there were so many people without a doctor we really felt that this was something we should support," Hildebrand says.

However, she notes they are desperate need of approximately 20 volunteers. "All kinds of opportunities, any department. There's real flexibility in shifts, it's not that you have to commit to be here everyday... there's a lot of opportunities to help out."

Wahl says they hope to see shovels in the ground in the next four weeks.