COULD YOU SPARE AN HOUR?
Could you spare an hour, say once a week? Or half a day once a month? It does not sound much, but it could mean a great deal.
The year 2012 is an important one for Jospice. It will be the 50thanniversary of the beginning of specialised caring for the terminally ill in the very earliest days of what is now known as the hospice movement. When Father Francis O'Leary began his work, he did not know he was in at the beginning of an international movement. He was just helping people who had nowhere else to turn as they came to the end of life.
In this 50th Jubilee Year, Jospice is asking for volunteers to donate 50 hours of their time – this could be one hour a week, or half a day once a month. This could, perhaps, be working in one of the Jospice shops, helping at a fundraising event, selling raffle tickets, folding the Newsletter or helping with other mailings. Volunteer help with collections in supermarkets is another job that regularly needs a few more hands to bring in the cash.
Ten years ago, a couple of retired men, Don and Charles, came to Pat Murphy, the Fundraising Director at Jospice, offering to run a raffle. They made a good job of that and have carried on fundraising in all sorts of ways. To date they have brought in an amazing total of £260,000 to support the caring work of the hospice.
Not everyone has the dedication of Don and Charles, but their massive total has been made up of relatively small amounts. Anyone can help. 50 hours sound s a lot, but broken down to an hour, or a couple of hours a week, it all mounts up. Individuals, community groups, church groups, friends at work might be able to join together to help with one-off events or promotions. Jospice is already thinking of awarding Golden Jubilee Volunteer Certificates to helpers in the coming year.
How to get in touch If you think you may be able to help, or would just like to talk through an idea for helping to raise funds, call Siobhan Clinton on 0151 932 6046
Help Raise Money! Would you like to get involved and help raise vital funds for Jospice? Read more
Fundraising Support of the community
and local businesses is vital to Jospice. Read more
