08/26/2026
To be a great neighbour is to look beyond your own doorstep. Darren Godbout has spent years doing just that.
Darren owns and operates Auction Advantage, which formerly had an office next door to Dartmouth General Hospital. In the early days of the pandemic, he turned over the majority of his parking lot to be used as a drive-thru COVID testing site, using his shipping containers. Those containers have now become a drive-thru blood collection service, with more than 26,000 visits in the last year alone.
In 2023, the province purchased the land surrounding Dartmouth General Hospital for future growth. Darren moved his office site but wanted to maintain his strong connection to DGH and, in turn, continue helping others in the community.
That’s how the Emergency Department Clothing Program began.
Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation staff members coordinated with Darren to create a clothing locker that sits just outside the Emergency Department. Darren keeps it stocked with new clothing and footwear, including seasonal items like winter coats, warm socks and properly sized boots. These are often provided to people who are unhoused or low income and don’t have the resources to purchase clothing.
“Some people may think of it as just clothing but it’s more than that,” says DGH Emergency Department social worker Jennifer Stevens. “It’s dignity. It’s self-respect. So it’s been pretty incredible.”
Darren is humble when discussing his longtime support of Dartmouth General Hospital and his commitment to helping others. He says it’s a family effort alongside Roselyn Bower, their children Benji and Anna, and cousin Chris Anderson.
“We’re just happy to support the community,” he says. “We’ll always be there for them. We’ll always work hard to get what they need.”
Because that’s what great neighbours do.
You can read more on this story on our Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation website dghfoundation.ca/neighbours-helping-neighbours/
