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May 15, 2017
May 15, 2017
NORTHAMPTON – The Hospice Shop of Northampton, part of Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice, reached $2 million in donations to Hospice Care on May 9.
The familiar thrift store on 18 Bridge Street celebrated its 30th Anniversary this winter and boasts a selection that includes men and women’s clothing, fashion accessories, art, CDs and DVDs, fabrics and yarn, household items and small household appliances, musical instruments, linens, and jewelry.
Volunteers Support the Hospice Mission
Sixty-six active volunteers are committed to the hospice mission and donate over 6,700 hours annually to ensure that quality end of life care is available in our community. Volunteers sort, tag, display, sell and ring up merchandise; just this year they served 19,329 customers.
Some of the volunteers have been giving their time for 5, 10, 15 years or longer. Cooley Dickinson salutes each one of our Hospice Shop volunteers, past and present, and thanks them for their service to the community over the last 30 years.
“I love when a customer will ask about a volunteer they haven’t seen for a while,” says Susan Drzewianowski, the shop manager, who has been there since 2008 when the Hospice Shop broke its first million in revenue. Drzewianowski confirms, “It’s a mutual warmth and concern between volunteers and regular customers, especially if it’s been a while since they’ve seen one another.”
One volunteer, Connie Wilson, has shared her time with the shop since 1987, when the shop was only a year old. Wilson knew the shop’s founder, Kit Jennison, and is humbled to remember how excited volunteers were when a day’s sales totaled $50—a number that seems tiny as the Hospice Shop reaches its second million dollar mark.
When you donate your items to the Hospice Shop, your donation stays in the community, supporting families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers who need the love and care of our Hospice team. The Hospice Shop sells donated, gently used quality clothing and household items at thrift store prices.
“The Hospice Shop raises money to support compassionate end of life care. Because of the shop’s remarkable success, we are able to provide care to our patients, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. What many people don’t realize about our volunteers is that they, too, have their own stories and reasons for supporting our program. By donating their time, they are making a difference in the lives of the people in our community. We are proud, honored and thankful that they are part of our caring team,” said Priscilla Ross, executive director, Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice.
About Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice
Cooley Dickinson VNA & Hospice provides comprehensive home health care in the Pioneer Valley. We know patients are likely to do better recovering from an illness or injury in their home. Likewise, people at the end of life are more comfortable at home, surrounded by familiar faces and surroundings. We are proud to provide exceptional, compassionate, and personalized care to help our community age with independence and dignity.
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