A Heartfelt Thank You from OCH

Wow – what a difference a year can make! This time last year, we were facing a significant shortage of volunteers across all our services, directly impacted by the challenging times brought about by COVID-19. The absence of 50 volunteers, particularly receptionists and kitchen assistants, made it incredibly difficult to fill our rosters.

However, thanks to an immense recruitment effort, we are delighted and relieved to welcome all our new volunteers across all areas. We also are very excited to welcome our new Wānaka crew. We sincerely hope that each of you is settling into your volunteer roles and finding joy in being part of our large and wonderful Hospice team.

We extend a heartfelt thanks to our long-term volunteers and to all those who have shouldered additional load during these troublesome times. Your dedication and commitment have been invaluable.

Our Inpatient Unit heavily relies on dozens of volunteer receptionists, ensuring people are guided in the right direction, calls reach the intended recipients, and providing a warm presence as visitors enter our Hospice. The engine rooms of our seven crucial Hospice Shops are kept running smoothly by the hundreds of dedicated volunteers which sees our shops generating nearly half of our total fundraising target. Our beautiful gardens flourish due to the continuous care and attention provided by our committed gardeners and our maintenance crew. The kitchen operates seamlessly thanks to the crew of volunteers who show up every week with smiles and professionalism. Our housekeepers maintain order during the weekends, while biographers capture stories of lives well-lived. And hundreds of volunteers provide the backbone of our Appeal Day and the annual trailer raffle.

Your contributions as volunteers have become increasingly valuable, especially as we navigate through challenging times with fundraising impacted by persistent inflation. You are an essential piece of the Hospice service puzzle. Every week, we are fortunate to have 400 volunteers dedicating their time, resulting in an incredible 840 work hours undertaken. This adds up to over a million dollars' worth of input each year from our invaluable volunteers.

During this financial year, from 1 July to 30 June, we face the daunting task of raising more than $3 million. It is a monumental challenge, but it would be impossible without the additional $1 million worth of value that our volunteer army brings to our service.

Hospice could not fulfil its mission without each and every one of you. I want to personally express my gratitude and extend a heartfelt thank you from everyone here at the Hospice, including our team, our board of trustees, and our funding supporters.

You enhance and improve our service, and we are deeply grateful for your unwavering support.

With sincerest appreciation,

Ginny Green

CEO Otago Community Hospice