Honoring Our Residents - May 2021
May at Celia's House treats our residents, families, staff and volunteers to an abundance of beauty as the gardens pour fourth vivid floral displays and a kaleidoscope in shades of green. May is a time to see mother earth in celebration. We seek to celebrate the beauty of each individual who enters our care and to honor the family and friends who surround them during this most tender time of life. Thank you for joining us in this work.
Nearly Half-Way There!
Over 300 Nights of Care In the Balance - Volunteers Inspire and Seek Your Help
By Julie Raefield, Development Director
No one wants to focus on the cost of care when facing a terminal illness. At Celia's House, we work to ensure anyone who seeks our care is able to receive it - regardless of income. Our ability to admit families from all walks of life depends on a wide array of funding - including help from our wonderful community of donors.

COVID continues to significantly impact us with increased costs of testing, PPE and staffing, raising our operating costs by nearly $75,000 this year and adding to our projected operating loss for 2021. Now more than ever, our generous donors' help is critically needed.

Through July 31, Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice and HUB volunteers are working with supporters and friends to raise funds to cover 316 nights of care ($125,000), to help us meet our annual operating costs and support our mission to care for those at the end of life.

Volunteers embody our person-centered care philosophy, which puts our residents' needs first and inspires others to join together to help our fellow community members. We are grateful for their help in so many ways, and now for their leadership in this fundraising effort.

The great news is that through the generous outpouring of donations from current volunteers we have reached nearly half our goal!

We are now asking all of our friends, who have been touched by hospice, or the loss of a loved one, to join hands with our volunteers in reaching our $125,000 goal. As of May 24th we have raised a total of $60,586 - meaning we have just $64,414 left to raise!

As a bonus incentive, we have two volunteers who are MATCHING every dollar (up to $43,842) raised in new donations - doubling the impact of any donation given right now!

Our VOLUNTEERS & FRIENDS appeal so far has raised:
  • $10,050 in Care Fund contributions (care grants for those in need)
  • $44,956 to help Fill the Gap for our Annual Operating needs
  • $ 5,580 to Pay Down Celia’s House Mortgage

This is a great opportunity to double-your-gift's-impact today, by clicking the link below to make an online donation. If online isn't your style, look for an upcoming appeal letter in your mailbox with a return envelope! Or, you can call the administrative offices M-F 9-4pm, to give over the phone at 541-500-8911.

We thank you for thinking of our hospice residents as we accompany them on their journey with kind, compassionate care here at Celia's House. And, a special thanks goes to our volunteers who inspire us all.
A CELIA'S HOUSE FAMILY STORY
Honoring A Father with Love & Special Care
By Cheryl French, Volunteer
Just about a year ago, Brad Nelson’s dad Jim was outdoors, as usual, fixing his tractor. Shortly thereafter, Jim was diagnosed with cancer, followed by a series of medical crises and two lengthy stays in the hospital.

With a diagnosis of terminal illness, Jim was transitioned to hospice care and his family hoped that he could be cared for at home. When it became apparent that Brad’s mom and working family members would not be able to provide the needed full-time medical care, a family friend recommended Celia’s House for Jim.
“The caregivers at Celia’s House are a special breed,” Brad said. “Dad needed round-the-clock medical attention. Once he was at Celia’s, we had people who knew how to care for him and did so like he was their own family.

“Many people may not know what a gem Celia’s House is,” Brad added. “I think it’s because you don’t know about it until you need it. I believe we did what was in Dad’s best interest. He received top-notch care that we couldn’t have provided.”

The decision was the right one for the Nelson Family and Brad was able to spend many hours at his dad’s bedside, just the two of them. Each morning, he would buy coffee for himself and Jim to enjoy during their visit. Because Jim had become non-verbal, Brad said he got to know his dad at a very deep level and began to accept death as an event as natural as birth. He said, “There is something very special about the process.”

The Nelson family made sure that any time Brad’s mom wanted to see Jim, they would bring her to visit. Even Jim’s little grandkids came into his room for a quick visit each day. One warm day close to Brad’s brother Doug’s birthday, the whole family came to celebrate, and were able to be outdoors in the garden with Jim. Kitchen manager Karen brought out ice cream for everyone as they created a treasured memory.

After Jim’s passing, the Nelson family chose to share a special time called an Honoring Ceremony. Celia’s House offers each family an opportunity to formally remember their loved one. Brad reflected that his dad’s effect on the staff really showed during that time. Jim’s humor shined through his illness and the caregivers adored him. “Many of them came on their day off to celebrate his life and say good bye. It was a beautiful spring day, and we gathered outside in the garden. It was so heart-warming to see how much they cared.”

Celia's House and Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice wish to thank the Nelson Family for sharing their care story with us.
The Celia's House Care Fund - Help When Needed
Every Celia's House resident benefits from the cost-lowering offsets created by sales revenue from our resale shop, The HUB (Hospice Unique Boutique). However, even with those cost savings on Celia's House daily rates, many still cannot afford residential hospice care without other assistance.
 
That is why Celia's House and Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice, with the help of a small number of generous donors, have established the Celia's House Care Fund. Through this fund, we have been able to provide 166 days of care to residents-in-need. We hope to be able to offer a greater number of families this assistance in the years ahead by increasing gifts to the fund.
 
Residents and families who may need financial help meet with our administrator and determine eligibility for various level of "grants" to assist in paying for care.
 
For anyone considering a donation to the Volunteer & Friends Appeal, you may specify to have your gift support residents and families who need Care Fund assistance.
Celia's House in Full Bloom - May 2021

With gratitude from Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice and Celia’s House, and a huge "thank you" to all our donors, shoppers, and volunteers who supported the success of The HUB’s spring sidewalk sale!

NEWS FLASH: The HUB will be closed on Memorial Day, May 31.

NOTICES AND NEEDS:
  • Every month we award a special prize to a lucky shopper who has signed up on our email list. Our May winner is Tanya Martin! Call The HUB for your surprise gift!

  • Mover-Helper needed for donation pick-ups. We continue to seek volunteers who are able to safely pick up, move and deliver furniture. Please contact us: THEHUB@opendoor.com or 541-488-7805. We are grateful for even a few hours per week!

  • Precious stones, gold, silver and jewelry donations are gratefully accepted! Drop by with any of your beloved no-longer-needed quality items, 10:30-4:30 daily.

Need Help or Have Questions?

For General Information - Call Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice Administrative Offices:
541-500-8911

For Admission Information - Call Celia's House Administrator Michele Murray:
541-613-0230
Photo: Rhododendrons ablaze at Celia's House

Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice & Celia's House
Mailing Address:
217 S. Modoc Ave., Medford, OR 97504