VERGENNES — At the last Vergennes Lions meeting, Addison County Home Health and Hospice staff members Sara Audet and Kathy LaFramboise spoke to the Lions about the importance of their Sunshine Fund to assist families with clients in the palliative and hospice care program.
This fund is used to help fill basic needs where staff members feel there is a need. It could be for personal health items and other items they feel would be helpful to the client and/or their family. These are items that would not be covered by any insurance.
Audet and LaFramboise pointed out that they currently have 45 clients each in hospice and palliative care, which is only a small share of the 534 current clients that ACHHH regularly sees. The ACHHH staff makes 214 home visits on a daily basis. The total mileage they put on annually doing home visits is over 726,000 miles in over 78,000 visits.
At the end of the presentation, Lions President Chuck Burkins presented Sarah and Kathy with a check for $250. In addition, the Brandon-Forest Dale Lions, who were visiting the Vergennes club, presented them with a handful of cash and checks. The staff from Northlands Job Corps Center, Vergennes Rotary Club members, and the Vergennes Lions Club members also had collected twin sheets, blankets, towels, washcloths, health drinks, bird seed, and other items that were needed to help the cash donations go toward other needs. Sarah and Kathy expressed their appreciation for all the help.
Editor’s note: This article was provided by Lion Larry Simino.