Past President Kelly McKinney introduced speakers Ross McDougall and Harold Brennan, both of whom he considers as great examples of leading by example.  Kelly referred to them as colleagues as he has worked with them at McDougall Insurance since 2005 when he started there.  He is delighted to hear from them today on Heart and Home, the Hospice Quinte Care Centre.

Harold Brennan was asked by Ross two years ago to get involved in this project and it dovetails with his commitment in the community to be involved.  Through personal experience, Harold knows how difficult it is for family to see a loved one pass in a nursing home or hospital setting and sees Hospice Quinte as a much needed safe refuge for the difficult journey of life-limiting illness, death and grief.  A hospice setting will provide a positive experience for children and grandchildren, a focus that would be important and aligned with Rotary.  Heart and Home is a 9.5 million dollar project with the building itself being the biggest portion of those costs.  Todate, over 7 million dollars have been raised.  Construction is well under way and it is expected that residents will receive palliative care in the new facility by October or November this year.

 

Ross McDougall, Co-Chair of the Heart and Home Campaign thanked Rotary for inviting them here today in order to consider their request for financial support.  Ross along with the Late John Williams agreed to co-chair the project.  With John's death and the year with COVID has certainly made fundraising more difficult.  There are 41 other Hospice facilities across Ontario and Ross and John recognized that the Quinte area needed to get behind and support this much needed community-based service in our area.  Hospice palliative care is a special kind of health care for those who are in the advanced stages of a life-limiting illness, where the goal is to provide comfort and dignity and the best quality of life for them and their family.  The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care approved moving forward with a 6-bed Hospice Quinte Care Centre.  The City of Quinte West generously donated the property for the new care centre along with 1 million dollars for construction.  The City of Belleville also donated 1 million dollars as well as Tyendinaga Township donating $75,000.  The Parrott Foundation has given the gift of compassion and care with a $215K donation, a significant and thoughtful gift in December 2020 with an earlier contribution of $250K in the early days of the campaign, a total contribution by them of $465K.  The 6-bed Hospice Quinte Care Center is located on Old Highway 2 across from Bayside Secondary School, a safe, comfortable, quiet and welcoming place that will feel as close to home as possible.  Having this facility will mean approximately 300 to 350 families will be able to be supported each year.  The location also provides an option to expand the facility to 10 beds in the future if needed.

 

The Rotary Board has considered the request to support this Heart and Home Hospice in our community and will be sending a survey to all Rotarians to cast their vote of support.  Individuals can also make on-line donations on their website https://hospicequinte.ca/donate.  Donations can also be made by cheque and mailed to Hospice Quinte, Bayview Mall, 470 Dundas Street, Unit #2, Belleville K8N 1G1.  Financial commitments can be made in one lump sum or over a few years, monthly.  The catchment area for this hospice will be Belleville, Quinte West, Deseronto, Tyendinaga Township and The Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.

 

Bill MacKay, Hospice Quinte Board President thanked Ross and Harold and credited the success of the campaign to their tireless work and volunteer efforts.  No words of thanks can be sufficient.  Bill offered his own personal sincere gratitude.