Nanaimo Community Hospice is a step closer to a new home thanks to the generosity of the Nanaimo Port Authority.
The port donated $50,000 over three years to the Expand the Heart of Hospice fundraising campaign.
The $900,000 campaign is for a new Hospice House on Waddington Road, close to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
Demand for hospice services has more than tripled in recent years and the present location on Boundary Avenue is bursting at the seams.
“We are thrilled that the port authority has chosen to partner with us at this level and encourage other service and corporate groups to do the same,” said Wendy Pratt, executive director of Hospice. “Hospice addresses issues that will affect everyone at some point. We want to ensure that we are able to respond when and where we are needed most.”
Bernie Dumas, Port president, said the port authority is happy to partner with hospice to invest in a stronger and healthier community.
“As our city grows, the need for these services grow with it, and hospice has strategically positioned itself to expand to accommodate the growing need,” he said.
The donation follows bequests from Delores Mason for $100,000 and Clifford Shoop for $50,000.
Donating to the campaign enables Hospice to enhance existing services such as its child and youth program, and add new ones such as a palliative day program that would provide support to palliative patients being cared for at home, and their family caregivers.
Donations can be mailed to Nanaimo Community Hospice, 1729 Boundary Ave., Nanaimo, B.C., V9S 4P3, by calling 250-758-8857, online at www.nanaimohospice.com or in person at Hospice House.