Coronavirus has dealt a “catastrophic” blow to Strathcarron Hospice, which faces a major battle to meet a £3.5million fundraising target.
Dedicated staff are continuing to provide care for people with terminal illness both in the Denny hospice and in the community despite the crisis.
However, the team is appealing to supporters to do what they can to make up for the many fundraising events which cannot now go ahead.
Strathcarron’s fundraising manager Jackie Johnston said: “In terms of fundraising, the current situation is catastrophic in terms of immediate and future fundraising.
“All upcoming events are cancelled and although we already have some of the related funds in the door these will sit in this year’s budget and people are no longer sponsoring friends and family for their non-events.
“The new fundraising budget, effective from April 1 is £3.5million.”
All the hospice’s charity shops closed their doors on Monday and no donations of goods are being accepted.
“The reality is that the shops collectively raise £500,000 in profit for the hospice,” added Jackie.
“We have set up text code appeals and will continue with an ask at every opportunity. By next week we will have an online appeal.
“Our costs have not reduced significantly on the basis that our daycare facility is now closed for the time being as the staff are now covering in-patient unit care so it’s only reduced by about £600 daily, leaving the charitable costs sitting at £12,300 daily.
“As a hospice-wide team we are all working very hard to keep everything going, both in the hospice itself and out in the communities for the people we care for in their own homes.
“My hope is that we have been here for grandparents, parents and other loved ones for 39 years and with public support we will be here for generations to come.
“We understand these are difficult times for everyone but we are confident this will pass and are urging everyone who has had to cancel their own fundraising events to defer until later in the year. We really appreciate your support at an incredibly difficult time for all of us.”
Strathcarron’s Compassionate Communities Team are also working hard to support service users at home to protect the mental health and general wellbeing of people isolated through ill health. They can be contacted on 01324 826222.
Anyone who would like to support the hospice can text ‘Strathcarron £20’ to 70085 to provide one hour of nursing care.
