Lack of funding hits Edenvale Care Centre Hospice
“Things have gotten so bad that there is talk of closing the centre. At this stage there is no chance of that; we will fight to the end.”
Following several months of lack of payment by the Gauteng Department of Health, Edenvale Care Centre Hospice again finds itself in dire straits.
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Administrator for the care centre Marlene Hooper said the centre is on its last legs as donations from the community slowly start to dwindle.
She said the financial crunch became so bad that the centre could no longer afford to pay its staff.
“We had received no payment from the department on May 30. The directors and community donors are keeping our doors open.”
“Things have gotten so bad that there is talk of closing the centre. At this stage there is no chance of that; we will fight to the end.”
“With 21 years of history, we will not close.”
Marlene said the last time the centre received payment from the department was in January.
“We signed the yearly payment contracts in March and the release payment forms in April, but still nothing.”
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Marlene said the centre expected to receive funding several weeks ago but did not.
She said because of the desperate situation the centre finds itself in, Sam Atrash, who stepped down as the centre’s fundraiser, was requested to return to assist.
In light of this, the care centre will host several fundraisers to aid its finances.
The first fundraiser, a soup day, will be on June 23. At R100 per person, community members will be able to enjoy hearty vegetable soup and will also receive a knee blanket.
The centre will host a mini market on July 6 between 09:00 and 14:00.
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Besides providing an opportunity for the community and vendors to interact, the SA National Blood Services will be at the market collecting much-needed blood donations.
Both these fundraisers will be at the centre’s property at 55 6th Ave, Edenvale.
Continuing through July, which is Mandela Month, Marlene said the centre plans to host a nappy drive for its patients.
“Last year, we asked the community for 67 packs of adult nappies and were lucky enough to get 167. This year we are hoping to beat that amount.”
Marlene said the donations of nappies assist the centre and the patients, some of whom are under financial pressure themselves.
Despite receiving donations from their loyal supporters and donors like Central Build It, Specichem and Platchem, she said donations from the community have diminished.
“Last year, we received a donation from a deceased estate which helped us tremendously. It is just the economic situation, there is no money in the community.”
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Marlene explained this is why the centre hosts fundraisers to generate some form of funding.
The centre mostly needs non-perishable food, adult nappies and, if possible, monetary donations.
Their banking details are:
Bank: First National Bank
Account name: Edenvale Care Centre General Account
Account number: 62122086821
Branch number: 201510
Account type: current.
A request for comment was sent to the Gauteng Department of Health on May 31, requesting comment by June 2 at 10:00.
At the time of going to print no comment was received.
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