P.O. Box 3116
Vancouver, WA 98668
Message Phone 360-696-5056
www.friends-of-hospice.org
www.friends-of-hospice.org
LETTER FROM OUR CO-PRESIDENTS
Dear Community Partner:
Friends of Hospice Southwest Washington is appealing to community
leaders for their support of Hospice services. Our community is
growing, and as the baby-boomer population joins the ranks of the
elderly the need for end-of-life care is increasing.
What is Hospice?
Hospice is a philosophy of care for people facing a terminal illness, focusing on comfort and quality of
life when a cure is no longer possible. Hospice care is provided wherever a patient lives, and provides
support to the family as well as the patient. Hospice Care is holistic care, treating the patient’s emotional
and spiritual needs, as well as their physical comfort. The hospice team works with the patient and
family to maintain quality of life and make the most of every day.
What is Friends of Hospice Southwest Washington?
History & Purpose
Friends of Hospice Southwest WA is a non-profit volunteer 501(c)3 corporation that has worked for
over thirty three years to supplement the financial resources of our local hospice programs.
Fundraising & Donations
Friends of Hospice SWWA hosts an annual fundraising Fall Luncheon and a Winter Holidays Poinsettia
Sale. In 2012 we held our second Spring Flower Basket Sale. In addition, funds are raised by membership
dues, memorials, raffles and individual projects.
Use of Funds
Funds raised by Friends of Hospice SW WA are used directly to ease the burden that can be experienced
by patients and families while dealing with a life-limiting illness. Examples of the support received
from Friends of Hospice include: Funding for medication for symptom and pain control, hardship
household expenses, home health aides, family support as requested by the social worker, as well as
respite care and educational resources.
Friends of Hospice SW WA is a 501 (c) 3 tax exempt non-profit organization registered with the
State of Washington. Our federal tax identification number is 20-4672767.
We know that the state of the economy has put a financial strain on
everyone. This includes businesses, charities, and individuals. We
also know that end-of-life issues are a reality for all people and all
families. So, once a year we directly ask for monetary donations.
Please consider being a Friends of Hospice Partner when budgeting
for your community giving. However, any donation is appreciated
and all donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law
and are designated for patient care and bereavement programs.
Partners are acknowledged at our Annual Fall Luncheon, at other
events, and in publications throughout the year. Friends of Hospice
is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit registered with the state of Washington.
Platinum Partner
Diamond Partner
Gold Partner
Silver Partner
Bronze Partner
Classic Partner
$5,000+
$2,500 - $4,999
$1,000 - $2,499
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
$100 - $249
Questions are welcomed. Please note contact information below.
Friends of Hospice Board of Directors
Co-Presidents
Bev Bollinger
Jane Sporre
Co-Vice Presidents
Dee Memering
Christa St. Clair
Co-Secretaries
Cathy Harris
Pam Blaufus
Co-TreasurersImmediate PastDirectors
Kate Hendrickson
Co-Presidents
Carole Jones
Tiffany Couch
Jerrie Ballew
Mary Russell
Cherie StaehelyJudy Seppa
COMING
UP
CURRENT RESIDENT OR
AUGUST 15TH
Annual Holiday Poinsettia presale start online and in person
SEPTEMBER 10TH
Annual Fall Luncheon
Heathman Lodge
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
We would like to take this opportunity
to welcome all the new members of
Friends of Hospice. You will find this
a worthwhile and rewarding way to
volunteer.
We appreciate the time commitment
from our veteran members and look
forward to your contributions to this
worthy cause.
Hospice care means HOPE—we
provide support and symptom
management at the end of life.
Hospice care allows patients to
keep their own doctor.
Hospice care is not just for cancer patients.
More than half of hospice patients are
diagnosed with other conditions such as
heart failure, dementia, or chronic lung
disease.
Hospice care starts well before the last
few days. The earlier a patient receives
care, the more opportunity to stabilize
their condition and meet the needs of the
patient and their family.
Hospice care is available wherever a
person lives. It usually takes place in their
home, but can be provided any place a
person lives, including nursing homes and
assisted living communities.
Hospice care is affordable — it is paid for
by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private
insurances.
The hospice team provides expertise in
caring for the patient and their family at
the end of life.
Donations at Work
This year’s theme is: “Friends of Hospice, Then & Now.” We
will be honoring our long-time members and founders.
Ticket sales will begin on or about mid August and you
may purchase them on line or from members. In order to
assure seating with specific individuals, tickets will need to
be purchased and requests made no later than September
1, 2013. We hope those of you who have attended in the
past will join us again this year and perhaps invite some new
friends. Please mark your calendars now and join the fun
this fall.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Heathman Lodge
7801 NE Greenwood Drive
Vancouver, WA 98662
Soup Warms the Heart as Well as the Tummy!
Contributions To Our Community
The following are but a few of the stories of ways in which
your donations are helping hospice patients:
Friends of Hospice has been able to contribute for various
services and items to help increase the quality of life for
several families with loved ones at end of life.
With the hard times many families have found themselves
in, groceries have become very important especially for our
hospice patients. We have been able to provide a couple of
families with gift cards to buy groceries.
Housekeeping is another service that some hospice patients
have been in need of that we have been able to help.
Massage therapy and the compassionate touch was given to
a patient to help relieve pain.
We are helping some of our new volunteers with the cost of a
food handler’s card they must purchase to prepare meals for
some of our patients.
And finally, we have supplied individual snacks bags for our
Stepping Stones children so they can accept the passing of a
much loved family member.
Supporting terminally ill
patients and their families in
their time of need
Friends of Hospice was recently able to purchase twenty (20)
chairs for the Ray Hickey Hospice House, one for each patient
room. This purchase will now allow comfortable seating for
a family member or close friend visiting their loved one. A
Friends of Hospice member was able to purchase these chairs
for cost, thereby saving both a retail and decorator’s fee.
by Sonja Hauser of the Ray Hickey Hospice House
Imagine holding a vigil at your loved one’s bedside, not knowing if you have hours or just minutes left to
spend with them. It is a bittersweet time for our families. It can be a wonderful family “remember when” time
even while it is also emotionally painful. Now imagine adding the physical ‘pain’ of hunger to them. Families
do not want to leave the bedside to go home to eat or find a restaurant. The fear of their loved one dying right
after they leave is real. Sometimes the vigil lasts 24 or more hours.
MISSION
OUR
Did you
know?
Annual Friends of Hospice Luncheon
To provide funds for the
care of hospice patients
through established
hospice organizations in
Southwest Washington.
Thanks to the incredible kindness and support from you, Ray
Hickey Hospice House is now able to provide a pot of soup for
their families every night. There aren’t many foods as comforting
as a bowl of hot soup. Families feel better physically when they
eat. They feel better emotionally when they are cared for like
this.
Please allow me to pass on the “thank you’s” that I have received
from countless families. They rightly belong to you. Because of
your caring, we are more able than ever to care for our families.
Music For The Soul
By Jennifer Pratt-Walter, Certified Healing Musician, Harpist/Thanatology
I came to my work as a Music Thanatologist from the medical side. I
worked as an RN for 13 years, including home health and hospice. Harp
music became my calling though. Bedside and therapeutic music
brings me a feeling of connection, nurturing and gratitude for all the
stories I have been privileged
to be a part of. Music can communicate so many things, no words
needed. In addition to special musical skills, I use intuition and
openmindedness to assess each client’s needs, or to understand
and support loved ones and caregivers sharing this end-of-life time.
I feel like I am weaving a gentle net of peace, reverence and love
during the intimacy of the dying process. I am very blessed to play
upon a special harp donated to RHH specifically for this purpose. It
lives in the chapel, and I can take it right up to the bedside and share special time with all those involved. I
have heard non-verbal patients sing with me. I have watched those in pain relax into rest. I have brought
cleansing tears of release and relief, including my own sometimes. And I have witnessed the mystery of
transition from life into death, always so powerful. I love what I do with the harp.