St. Bernard’s Hospice in East London have launched their innovative annual Coin & Copper Drive, requesting schools and youth to show their support by five-litre bottles filled with money.
According to St Bernard’s Corporate Liaison Officer, Dawn Schmidt, “The purpose of the drive is not only to bring in funds, but also to promote awareness and educate future generations about what hospices means in our community.”
Schmidt explains that 98% of their patients receive St Bernard’s care free of charge and therefore extensive fundraising is required to cover their costs. She says, “We are the only palliative care organisation in the city that does not turn someone away if they cannot pay for professional medical services. Funds raised will ensure that we will be able to continue providing home-based, high quality care to those who need it most.”
As part of their 2020 drive. St Bernard’s has partnered with 19 local schools. “We are thankful to the schools whose teachers, pupils and parents really get behind this initiative, ” says Schmidt. Particularly because we have not been able to hold our normal fundraising events during Covid and our reserves have been depleted. Despite this, during the pandemic period we conducted 9,614 visits with 414 patients and provided support to 357 family members as well.”
For more information please visit https://stbernardshospice.org.za/we-care-coin-copper-drive-31st-march-to-12th-june-2020/
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