COVID-19 Emergency Grant helps Hospice maintain homely setting

Covid 19 Emergency Grant Helps Hospice Maintain Homely Setting

Ipswich Hospice Care will continue to maintain a comfortable and homelike setting for palliative care patients and their families, thanks to a $10,000 COVID-19 Emergency Grant from Hand Heart Pocket the Charity of Freemasons Queensland.

It’s one of the larger donations that the seven-bed community facility has received in recent months, with Hospice volunteers not able to undertake usual fundraising activities in local shopping precincts until COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed.

Ipswich Hospice Care Director of Nursing Carol Hope welcomed the grant saying that it would go towards the purchase of vital equipment for the comfort of patients and to refurbish one of the older rooms.

“We strive to provide a peaceful place where terminally ill patients and their families can feel at home,” Ms Hope said.

“Each year, we enhance the quality of life of 200 patients from the West Moreton region, all of whom are cared for free of charge.

“However, we rely on the generosity of the public to help keep our services going, with an annual fundraising target of $1 million, so this grant is very much appreciated, given that our donations have decreased this year as a result of the pandemic.”

Caledonian Freemasons Lodge representative James Hogg said they nominated the local Hospice for the funding.

“Quality end of life care is vital in any community, so we are pleased to have championed this grant to support local palliative care services in our area,” Mr Hogg said.

Hand Heart Pocket Chief Executive Officer Gary Mark said the charity was focused on assisting its existing charity partners and working with Freemason Lodges to increase support at a grassroots level during the Coronavirus pandemic.

“So far, Hand Heart Pocket has provided over $750,000 in COVID-19 emergency support and Grassroots Community Grants to charities across Queensland during the pandemic,” Gary said.

“Ipswich Hospice Care provides an essential service for the region, and we are glad we could provide this extra support at a time when they needed it the most.”

Find out more about our support during COVID-19

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