Officer Damon Cole, dressed as Spider-Man, recently traveled from Texas to Haven’s E.T. York Care Center in Gainesville to visit a young patient. Officer Cole’s goal is to visit any child battling illness that wants to see him. He comes dressed as their favorite superhero to inspire them to never give up, while also building [...]
Holly Kraig Helton was deeply touched by a hospice experience last year and decided she wanted to contribute to Haven. After experiencing a hospice’s “wonderful care” for her mother-in-law in Mississippi, Holly traveled back to Alachua County and thought of a meaningful way she could honor her mother-in-law and give back: creating and selling stuffed [...]
Chris Russell, Haven’s Hospice Director for the East Region, was awarded the Patriot Award by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency. The individual award is given to employers who are supportive of service members. An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve can nominate his or [...]
St. Augustine event planner Karen Erwin has been coordinating with Haven for years to donate wedding flowers to hospice patients after events. Karen’s mother received someone’s wedding flowers when she was in hospice care in 2012, sparking Karen to implement flower donation in her own business. “I saw how excited the flowers made my mom [...]
* * To protect the privacy of the deceased, we will be using the pseudonym “Joe” throughout this story. Joe’s biggest concern was that his death wouldn’t mean anything. This Vietnam War veteran, who was in-and-out of homelessness his whole adult life and had no family, had not experienced much companionship in his life until [...]
Gainesville resident Arnold Johnson, born on January 18, 1919, recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Haven helped celebrate Mr. Johnson's life and birthday with balloons and a Legacy Project hand photography session. Gainesville Volunteer Coordinator Susie Finfrock delivers balloons to Arnold Johnson in celebration of his 100th birthday. Mr. Johnson, lovingly referred to as "Uncle Arnie" [...]
Haven recently received a $15,000 grant from the Thomas A. Plein Foundation to help fund its veteran and first responder programs. The funds will partially cover expenses associated with Haven’s We Honor Heroes program, which shows appreciation for patients throughout Haven’s 18-county service area who have served in the military or as a first responder. [...]
Lake City resident Steven Prather was recently recognized by We Honor Heroes volunteers from Haven. Prather is a United States (U.S.) Navy veteran who served in aviation for four years during Vietnam. Born in Georgia and raised in California, Prather was an automotive mechanic before and after his time in the military. Navy Veteran Steven [...]
Garden clubs across the state have been uplifting spirits for Haven patients for a decade, and this year was no exception! To brighten spirits, the Marsh Landing Garden Club has delivered decorated trees to Haven’s Custead Hospice Care Center in Orange Park for 12 years, and the Four Seasons Garden Club has provided floral arrangements [...]
Haven Patient Care Manager Rebecca Rosano and Bridgestone HosePower employees Matt Tsukagoshi, Hiro Watanabe and Stephenie Paras pose with donated wreaths at the Custead Hospice Care Center. For the second year in a row, Bridgestone HosePower donated holiday wreaths to Haven’s Custead Hospice Care Center. An equipment supplier located in Orange Park, Bridgestone HosePower participates [...]