Covid making life tough for hospices
It is a tough time to be running a hospice.
The region’s two hospices, Mary Potter and Te Omanga, are both experiencing a signifiant downturn in revenue, a reduction in available beds, and are concerned about the ongoing impact Covid-19 is having on their organisation.
Although many people assume hospices are government funded, hospices rely on a small army of volunteers to raise funds, run charity shops, and do everything from gardening to driving patients. Mary Potter has 550 volunteers covering Wellington City, Porirua and Kāpiti.
Te Omanga, which serves the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa, raises about $3 million annually towards the $10m cost of providing palliative care.
Chief executive Biddy Harford estimates a current shortfall in fundraising of $250,000.
‘‘For us, that is a really big chunk of money.’’
Te Omanga relies heavily on community fundraisers and its charity shops.
It has been almost impossible to hold events for two years and the turnover in their shops is down dramatically, she says.
Many of the volunteers running shops are older and, like everybody else, have been impacted by Covid-19.
People who donate goods are also naturally reluctant, she says, to let people into their house to do pick-ups for the stores.
With so much uncertainty, Harford says it is hard to plan for the future and she is also concerned about the impact of Covid-19 on volunteers, staff and the provision of palliative care.
With fundraising options limited, all Harford can do is keep in touch with regular donors and hope Covid-19 will not continue to linger.
‘‘We are all just holding our breath and hoping for the best.’’
Mary Potter interim chief executive Philippa Sellens agrees it is a very challenging time to be running a hospice.
Their annual budget is approximately $15 million with 44 per cent coming from Government.
Turnover in its charity stores is down by 12 per cent, compared to February 2021, and foot traffic is down 20 per cent.
‘‘That reduced retail revenue is likely to add up to an annual loss of income to the hospice of about half a million dollars – a massive loss for us,’’ says Sellens.
All charities are finding it challenging and with Covid-19 still rampant, it is having a big impact on the entire organisation, she says.
‘‘We are definitely concerned about the next six months.’’
Unable to hold their normal fundraisers, including their Strawberry Festival, Mary Potter is digitalising fundraising.
‘‘It is just the most reliable place to be, everyone carries their phones around these days.’’
Kāpiti real estate agent Doug Palmer has been raising money for Mary Potter for about 20 years. During that time, he estimates he has helped raise about $75,000.
The Kāpiti Dive Club holds as annual fishing competition, and afterwards auctions off the fish caught.
In its first year, the auction only raised $250 and last year it was able to go ahead, despite Covid-19 restrictions, and raised an impressive $11,500.
This year it was cancelled, due to the traffic light system, but he was able to raise $25,000 thanks to the ‘‘generous’’ support of local business sponsors.
He is aware of numerous small annual fundraisers for Mary Potter that have not gone ahead recently.
Such events, he says, foster a sense of community and generate goodwill towards the hospice and provide an opportunity for people who have friends or relatives helped by the hospice, to show their appreciation.