NEWS RELEASE
HOSPICE HURONIA
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PENETANGUISHENE – One year ago, April 16, 2020, Hospice Huronia welcomed Murray, their first resident, to Tomkins House, a new residential hospice located at 948 Fuller Avenue in Penetanguishene and serving North Simcoe residents. Murray was the first of 87 residents who have since called Tomkins House home for their last days.
Opening Tomkins House at the beginning of the COVID pandemic was a bold move but the need in the community for a residential hospice was so great it could not be delayed.
“It was not easy” Debbie Kesheshian, Executive Director of Hospice Huronia states. “The lack of PPE at the beginning, reduced fundraising at a time when funds were most needed and working with the Covid-related restrictions meant opening without all the volunteers to help and with reduced staff … but we did it!”
Celebrating with a Zoom call, all 87 residents’ names were read out as attendees raised a glass in their honour. Further celebrating the first year anniversary, one of Tomkins House’s talented nurses painted a barn quilt of a dragonfly, listing all the residents’ names along the wings. Names will be added each year to honour those who have called Tomkins House “home.”
“We couldn’t have done this without the support of the Community, our Donors and our Volunteers. This coming week we celebrate our wonderful Volunteers during National Volunteer Week and are proud to announce that Marthe Scott, our Board Chair who has led us through our first year at Tomkins House, is the recipient of the provincial June Callwood Award for Outstanding Volunteers. She is very deserving of this prestigious award.”
Hospice Huronia’s Tomkins House continues to welcome residents who are at the end of their life journey and support them and their families in a home-like setting. These services and bereavement support services are free to all thanks to partial funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and donations and fundraisers like the upcoming “Hike for Hospice” next month.
For more information of Hospice Huronia’s services, programs and Hike for Hospice, visit HospiceHuronia.ca or call 705-549-1034. We are thankful for those who make hospice their charity of choice.
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