The Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation announced the plans for their fall campaign this week.
The goal of the campaign is to raise funds for ongoing operational expenses as well as raise awareness of the benefits of residential hospice services.
“Residential hospices in Ontario receive partial funding from the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and must raise the remaining dollars needed to meet their overall operating budget. This is a different funding model for healthcare than people are used to. For this fiscal year, we need to raise is $850,000. That’s what is needed to cover expenses not included in the government funding,” said Steve Walker, vice-chair of the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation board.
Some examples of operating costs are:
– It costs $233 to cover the cost of one resident per day
– Groceries and dietary supplies average $385 per week
– Cable and internet costs $600 per month
The Geddes family know first-hand the benefits of hospice care.
Don Geddes passed away at Chatham-Kent Hospice in June. His wife, daughter and grandson shared their hospice experience crediting the caring staff, quiet atmosphere and thoughtful gestures of the volunteers for giving them wonderful memories to treasure forever.
Over the next eight weeks, the Hospice will be reaching out to the community through media promotion, introducing the Hospice Heroes Monthly Giving Program and hosting a Benefit Gala event on October 14, 2016.
To learn more, visit www.chathamkenthospice.com or call 519-354-3113.
– Submitted photo: Maureen Geddes (speaking), Faye Geddes and grandson Mark Meko looking on.
