Raising money for end of life services

Feb. 16--WEST BURLINGTON -- Rabid Blackhawk fans clutched pink rally towels during the Southeastern Community College basketball game Wednesday night, showing their support for a service many people don't think of until it's too late.

The third annual Pack It in Pink fundraiser raised thousands of dollars for Great River Hospice Wednesday -- a program that eases people through the final stages of life.

"This helps us offset the operational costs. Private insurance only covers so much, and we don't pass the additional charges to the patient," said Great River fundraising specialist Missy Allen.

The operational difference between the amount insurance pays and patient care is about $200,000 per year, and the hospice house is not funded by Great River Health Systems. All that money comes from donations and fundraisers, such as the Great River Hospice Fun Run/Walk in November.

"When we need additional medical equipment like a wheelchair, hospice covers that," Allen said.

The Pack It in Pink name comes from the event's proximity to Valentine's Day, which was reflected in the silent auction. Pink T-shirts were sold and cakes were auctioned off during half-time to help raise money.

The shirts were selling even faster than last year, and by 6 p.m., all of the sizes smaller than extra large were gone.

"We just want to continue to provide that care," Allen said. "Hospice is a real service to the community."

The hall outside the SCC gymnasium was lined with hospice volunteers in pink T-shirts and 40 themed gift baskets for auction, which included everything from bottles of wine to a spa day. Though the doors to the game didn't open until later that night, hospice volunteers arrived at SCC early that morning to watch over the baskets throughout the day. Anyone was allowed to bid on them beginning at 9 a.m., or they could bid online.

"I have known a lot of people in hospice that I've lost, and I love volunteering to take care of them," said hospice volunteer Jean Crotts of Stronghurst, Ill.

Crotts has been a registered nurse for more than two decades and began learning about the hospice program when it first was being introduced at the Burlington Care Center. She's been a volunteer at the Great River Hospice House for the past decade and took great joy in watching over the auction baskets Friday.

"If someone who is going to pass away doesn't have somebody with them, I would rather go in and sit with them and hold their hand. To me, it makes me feel as if this is the closest to God I'm going to be until I go to heaven. I don't want them to die by themselves," Crotts said.

Though the majority of Great River Hospice's end-of-life medical services are provided at private homes and nursing homes, many come to stay at the Great River Hospice House just outside the hospital. The hospice house has the capacity to hold six patients, and those patients often are granted end-of-life wishes.

"I tell people, if they find out their parents are terminally ill, that if you have something you want to know, don't be stupid. Ask the questions now," said hospice volunteer Janet Russell-Jacobs of New London.

Russell-Jacobs lost her mother to Alzheimer's disease about two years ago, and her mother spent her final days in the hospice house. Russell-Jacobs began volunteering at the hospice house well before that, though -- about seven years ago.

"They told us my mother would need hospice for eight weeks, because she would be leaving to go see her maker. She empowered us, because she ended up spending 18 weeks at the hospice house," Russell-Jacobs said.

There were only two days in those 18 weeks Russell-Jacobs didn't spend with her mother, and she had doctor's appointments both those days.

"My husband says I'm involved in a lot of stuff, but I just enjoy interacting with people," Russell-Jacobs said.

Great River Hospice also offers a bereavement program that contacts individuals at least once per month for 13 months following the death of a loved one with phone calls, visits, workshop opportunities, greeting cards and literature specifically on how to deal with loss.

For more information on how to help hospice, call Great River Hospice at (319) 768-3350.

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