A small contribution can lead to a big change
Support is provided to the patient's loved ones as well.
Hospice White River is a much-loved charity in the community, making a real difference in the lives of patients and their families.
The organisation, like many other non-profit organisations at the moment, is experiencing financial difficulties and Hospice White River is making an urgent appeal to the community to assist them by donating funds.
At any one time Hospice may have up to 35 patients in their care and each one costs the organisation approximately
R2 500 per month. Its average monthly running costs are in the region of R80 000.
There is a misconception that the organisation is part of a large national body, but this is not so. Hospice is solely reliant on donations and it raises all of its own funds. “We have been privileged in past years to receive funding from the National Lottery Commission, but we have not received funding for two years,” said fundraiser Andrea Matthews. This places Hospice in a perilous position.
People can assist Hospice in several ways. Matthews said in a market already saturated with fundraising events, Hospice White River has chosen to focus on an initiative that is affordable for everybody and which asks little of them in the practical sense.
This campaign is known as the Candle of Compassion, in which they invite people to pledge R50 or more per month on an ongoing basis. “This will help the organisation to continue with its valuable work with patients facing the challenges of life-threatening illness,” she said.
Through the Candle of Compassion campaign, their intention is to encourage the public to donate just R50 per month (or an amount that is personally affordable). “Should we have 500 donors of R50 per month we would be well on the way to covering a large portion of our monthly expenses and this will enable us to continue doing our valuable work in the community,” Matthews said.
At the moment, despite repeated appeals to the community, they have only about 80 donors who do that per month. “We are immensely grateful to every one of these donors, but we desperately need more people to do it on a regular basis.”
They also encourage local businesses to support this initiative, with larger donations if they are able to do so.
To make a R50 pledge, people can either set up a direct stop order or a recurring monthly payment to Hospice.
Banking details:
Hospice White River
FNB White River
Branch code: 270 552
Cheque account: 6202 566 8304
Reference: Your name
They do ask that all donors inform them of their donation so they can thank them, and secondly so that they can email them a tax receipt, should they request one. “We suggest that people set up a recurring Internet payment as that is the easiest way to make a regular monthly payment, or a monthly stop order via your bank.”
Hospice White River provides professional palliative care to patients of any age, religion and race within the White River community. This involves professional nursing care, including symptom and pain management, and emotional and spiritual support which is tailored to the patient’s needs and wishes.
Support is provided to the patient’s loved ones as well.
“At the centre of Hospice and palliative care is the belief that each of us has the right to die pain-free and with dignity, and that family members and carers will receive the necessary support to allow us to do so. Hospice focuses on providing loving care usually within the patient’s home. When a patient calls on us they pay an initial first assessment fee of R500, if affordable, and thereafter our service relies on donations affordable by the family.”
Enquiries: Hospice White River on 013-750-3044 or whiteriverhospice@tiscali.co.za.
