Maison McCulloch Hospice has been facing a major financial crunch lately.
In April, the hospice’s scotch-tasting fundraiser was cancelled due to COVID-19. Then, in May, its major Hike for Hospice fundraiser was postponed — it could possibly be rescheduled for October, but there are no guarantees.
At this point, it also looks like if the hospice’s popular butterfly release in August is held at all, it will be a scaled-down version.
Memorial donations from funerals, which usually bring in $23,000 a month, are also very much reduced due to the pandemic, as are contributions from individual benefactors.
Looking to make up for some of these revenue losses, the hospice has organized the 1st annual Hospice Care-A-Thon, set to take place Wednesday, July 8 from 6 a.m. to noon.
The telethon will be broadcast by local radio station Pure Country and livestreamed on the media outlet’s Facebook page.
It will be co-hosted by Sudbury Hospice Foundation president Gerry Lougheed and Pure Country morning radio host Coop.
The hospice hopes to bring in $25,000 — about what it normally would have raised through the August butterfly release.
The Sudbury Police Association, the event’s sponsor, has donated $10,000, and organizers hope to bring in at least $15,000 in community pledges.
“We want to just continue to show our support to the people of Sudbury, and to show that we truly care about the city,” said Randy Buchowski, president of the Sudbury Police Association.
Lougheed said the government only funds 60 per cent of the hospice’s operating expenses, which means the organization needs to raise $63,000 per month.
Earlier this year, the hospice completed its capital campaign to double its capacity from 10 beds to 20. Once the extra beds come on line, the hospice will have to raise around $90,000 per month in operating costs.
A call-out for emergency donations this spring was well received, Lougheed said, but there is always the need to raise more.
“In fact, the emergency request generated over $100,000 — just like one time, here’s your money, hope you can keep your doors open,” he said. “That was a big boost.”
If you’d like to contribute to the Care-A-Thon, visit maisonsudburyhospice.org (click on donate) or make sure you call in and pledge on July 8.
