Howick Hospice is rising to the Challenges of 2015 as it partners with our Howick community
Towards the end of 2014 the Board and Management of Howick Hospice Association were preparing from January 2015, to reduce both the palliative care services offered to our community, and staff salaries by 20%. In spite of having held extremely well supported events and having sent many proposals to different corporates, pharmaceuticals, financial institutions and businesses both national and international, our efforts to secure income for our organization were not meeting with much success. This cutback was a bid to enable the organization's continued sustainability in the face of depleting financial resources.
It soon became apparent however, that such is the dedication and commitment of our Howick Hospice staff to our community, that instead of using the 20% reduction in hours to find supplemental income, our staff members were continuing to work for Hospice from their homes; this dedication and commitment to care in spite of the fact that we are not in a position to pay our staff market-related salaries in the first place, and now were preparing to cut them by 20%! It also became apparent that after our article in the Village Talk, our community was rallying around us; holding events during the festive season at which we were beneficiaries, donating wonderful items for our Charity Shop, and putting money directly into our bank account.
So today I am delighted to be the bearer of the news that our Board, in support and recognition of the dedication of our staff and the outstanding commitment and generosity of our community, is taking a huge leap of faith by allowing our organization to continue as it has been in the past, open 5 days a week 08.00 – 15.30 (Shop 08.00 – 15.00) with staff members working their usual hours. Financially, we are still not out of the woods but our organization will continue to offer the palliative care and support that is critical to those suffering from a life threatening illness and reduced life expectancy, and their families. To those of you who have already partnered with our organization, a huge thank you, and to those who will still do so, your contributions will be much appreciated! I, as General Manager, continue to appeal to businesses within our community to pledge via debit order or EFT, R150 per month, and individuals, R50 per month to Howick Hospice Association. I trust to be continuing to visit within the community to share the passion that we in Howick Hospice have for palliative care and to ask you to share with us what ideas you might have for us for income generation. We are all in this together! And as you continue to support us, so you enable us to be there for you when you need us the most!
Sharon Alva-Wright