Sunshine Ace Hardware customers purchased nearly 900 specially marked buckets during the retailer’s annual Miracle Bucket Sale, generating $4,442 from Aug. 2-4, to enhance pediatric care in the region.

During the three-day event, customers received a five-gallon bucket in exchange for a donation to the nonprofit Children’s Miracle Network. The bucket then became their shopping basket, helping 897 customers earn a 20% discount on nearly everything they could fit inside.

“We host a variety of fundraising initiatives throughout the year to support Children’s Miracle Network, and the Miracle Bucket Sale is a unique opportunity to impact the lives of sick and injured children while enjoying buckets of savings on hardware and supplies,” said Michael Wynn, president of Sunshine Ace Hardware.

Associates at each store continued the company’s tradition of creating clever bucket displays to draw attention to the sale and the cause. This year’s themes included a fishing pier at the Bonita Springs store, an ice cream truck at the Kingsway store in Port Charlotte and an Olympics-themed display at the Founders Square store in Naples.

Donations made at Sunshine Ace Hardware stores in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties support Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Meanwhile, donations at the Sunshine Ace Hardware store in Pinellas County and Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware stores in Manatee County support Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.

Children’s Miracle Network is a nonprofit organization that helps cover the costs of patient services for children and families, charitable care for patients lacking sufficient funds or insurance, and education programs for patients, families and the community. Donations also allow hospitals to purchase life-saving equipment and provide advancement services for innovative programs and projects.

Since declaring Children’s Miracle Network as its primary charitable partner in December 2019, Sunshine Ace Hardware has raised $397,216 through a series of successful fundraising campaigns and initiatives.