Hospice Huronia needs the help of area residents this Tuesday.
During what’s being dubbed as Giving Tuesday Now, Hospice executive director Debbie Kesheshian hopes people will consider donating to or learning more about the Penetanguishene-based operation.
“Giving Tuesday Now is part of a global initiative,” she said, noting people commonly associate Giving Tuesday with the well-known day in the fall that follows Black Friday while this latest effort has been created as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.
Kesheshian said they’re hopeful area residents will fill in some of the facility’s funding gaps since they’re not sure where the government will end up since it's currently doling out huge amounts of funding.
“We want to try to have people consider local,” she said, noting everything during a hospice stay, including food, is provided free of charge.
“I don’t think people realize it. People, too, are often under the impression that people at the end of life are not eating, but that’s not accurate. If you want ice cream at three in the morning, we’ll get it for you.”
Hospices in Ontario receive roughly 50 percent of their budget from the Ministry of Health & Long Term Care, but everything else is covered by generous donations.
As well, Kesheshian said that since the official opening of Tomkins House took place during the pandemic, not as many people have seen the facility or know exactly how a hospice works.
“This wasn’t exactly how we imagined the grand opening of our five-bed hospice home and it has caused some challenges for our small charity,” she said.
“Typically, we can show donors through and include them in caring for our community. We would have had hundreds through to see the hospice. Seeing firsthand exactly where their donations go, makes a big difference and we simply aren’t able to do that safely.”
Some nursing costs, supplies, medical equipment, food and utilities all come from community supporters as well as the programs and services to support those who are grieving, which are all provided at no cost to residents, clients or their families.
Kesheshian said she and her team pride themselves on knowing that they're providing loving, dignified care with a focus on pain and symptom management.
Since officially opening its doors to residents last month, the hospice has welcomed three people with five more possible guests on a list.
The second resident, who didn’t have any family in the area, passed away, but not before experiencing the staff’s kindness, love and compassion.
“For our team, we wanted him to have dignity,” she said, noting the man told his doctor the hospice was the best place he had ever stayed.
“He was not a man of high means. Just knowing we could provide that (special time). For our team, knowing we could provide that loving care for him, that’s what gets us through the day.”
And while the first guest admitted has a relatively small family, the third man admitted has a fairly large one.
And because of COVID-19, the extended family isn’t permitted to visit so Keshenian said they set up a tent outside his window so he could see his grandchildren through the glass.
“It was actually very beautiful,” she said.
The small registered charity also currently has a ‘gift registry’ on its website that allows area residents to purchase both everyday and urgent items.
“Everything from coffee cream and butter to bed alarms and masks and gowns. There is something for everyone and we really could use help during these very uncertain times.”
Tomkins House is named after former Tiny Township resident Nicola Tomkins and her partner Dave Gowen who led the capital campaign for the $4 million build. It features five private rooms that all have Murphy beds so families can stay close. They can also go home to rest knowing their loved one is receiving care 24/7 by a professional palliative-care nursing team.
