Bucket-shaking

Mary Potter Hospice volunteers will be doing their bit to help the hospice during its annual appeal on tomorrow and Saturday.

“Yet again we are asking the communities of Wellington, Porirua and Kā piti to help fund their local hospice services,” hospice chief executive Tony Paine said.

The hospice sector nationally is calling for the Government to provide an increase in base-line funding for hospices.

Costs have sky-rocketed because of inflation.

In 2021 hospices across New Zealand cared for nearly 20,000 patients and their whanau at a cost of about $175.6 million.

Mary Potter Hospice cared for nearly 900 people, and received 44 per cent of the cost of running the hospice from the Government.

“We need to raise about $7m from the community to bridge the gap. “To do this we rely on our hospice shops and donations, but the gap is getting bigger and bigger. “We’re committed to remaining free-of-charge, and providing the highest quality palliative care for the community.”

There are many ways to help May Potter Hospice.

“You can donate goods or purchase items from our shops, become a volunteer, leave a gift in your will or make a donation.

“Please go to marypotter.org.nz for information.”