At its core, Maison McCulloch Hospice is sustained by Sudburians; staff who treat every patient with dignity, volunteers who tend the gardens and cook homemade meals and community members who buy 50/50 tickets to help keep the lights on.
“This place runs on heart. It’s a calling. You have to be a special person to work here,” says Julie Aube, executive director at Maison McCulloch. The care provided there is special too. “Everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Money doesn’t matter in the end. Every life is honoured equally.”
Maison McCulloch is the largest single-site hospice in Ontario, with 20 residential beds and six additional short-stay beds. However, it’s much more than somewhere to spend one’s final days.
Its services extend into six main pillars of care, including both long-term and short-term residential stays.
The hospice provides grief and bereavement programs for families before and after a loss, hospice volunteers travel to patients to offer support, a community palliative team makes house calls, making it possible for people to remain at home to receive medical care and its short-stay program gives families flexibility and relief.
They also have an extensive education program, which trains caregivers and health professionals in the specialized skills needed for palliative care, including teaching families how to administer medicines and move loved ones safely.
Together, these pillared services create a circle of care that ensures families are always supported, whether they are at the bedside, at home, or navigating their grief after a loss.
This coordination wouldn’t be possible without the support of volunteers. More than a hundred people help by cooking meals or caring for the grounds.
“Some people can’t donate money, but they donate their time and that keeps us upright,” Aube says. One volunteer recently spent an entire Saturday sanding and staining the gazebo by the lake, restoring a peaceful space where families can return to remember loved ones.
Keeping all of this running takes $1.6 million in fundraising every year, with lotteries and donations making up most of the hospice’s operating costs. “When people buy 50/50 tickets, they are keeping the lights on in this house,” Aube explains. “They are paying for food, wages, and utilities so families never have to leave the bedside.”
While government funding supports part of the operation, it is not enough to cover daily costs. The hospice depends on community generosity through 50/50 draws and its signature events to stay afloat. Even then, Aube says they often fall short of their month end target.
How can you help?
You can make a real difference today by joining Maison McCulloch Hospice’s 50/50 monthly draw. Every ticket you buy directly supports compassionate end-of-life care and you could win big while giving back. Visit www.maisonsudburyhospice.org to learn more and purchase your tickets that help keep the lights on.
Reflecting on the impact of hospice care and the generosity of the community, Aube shared: “The most meaningful part is the privilege families give us when they trust us with their loved one’s care. Every ticket bought, every hour volunteered, every act of support makes that possible.”
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