It’s bricks and mortar time for the Chatham-Kent Hospice, but Jennifer Wilson begs to differ.
Construction has begun on the building that will house the hospice, but Wilson, chair of the hospice board, said there is one central focus.
“It’s all about the people,” she said.
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Wilson, speaking at a construction launch ceremony April 17, asked those present to take a coloured ribbon and tie it to the fence around the construction site, but not before writing the names of a loved one on it.
“This is for loved ones past and present,” she said.
Jessica Smith, executive director of the hospice and neighbouring St. Andrew’s Residence, described Friday as “a very exciting milestone.”
Wilson agreed.
“Six hundred and forty days ago, the staff and volunteers of the hospice came together, and 640 days later we are pouring concrete. How amazing is that?”
Jim Laforet, chair of the construction committee, said he expects the foundation to be completed by the middle of May, with the exterior to be finished by mid-August.
“As long as the weather co-operates, we’ll be getting the keys this fall,” he said.
Not bad work, considering Wilson and the committee were repeatedly told what they had planned on doing – fundraising and building in such a tight time frame – could not be done in Chatham.
“So many people said this was impossible,” Wilson said. “But we kept going. That’s how you make the impossible possible.”
Jodi Maroney, director of development for the hospice, said fundraising is underway now in the form of a hope chest. Money raised in this initiative will go towards furnishings for the end-of-life care facility. To see what specific types of furniture and other items are needed, visit the hospice website at chathamkenthospice.com.
“It’s really a practical way to support the project,” Maroney said of the hope chest format, where website visitors can add items to the online “shopping carts.”
