To mark November’s National Hospice Month, Haven Hospice is asking residents across its 18-county service area to support their local Attic Resale Store by donating goods, shopping for bargains and treasures, or even volunteering their time and talent at the store.
Haven, a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1979 with a mission of: “Honoring life by providing comfort, care and compassion to individuals and families we serve.” Haven provides serious illness, end-of-life and grief and bereavement care to the community through its traveling team members as well as its five home-like hospice care centers. Thanks to the revenues generated by the Attic Resale Stores, Haven is able to provide comfort, care, and compassion to individuals and families, regardless of their ability to pay.
Haven’s six Attic Resale Stores across North Central Florida earned $1,823,422 for Haven in 2022, according to Sharon Jones, vice president of development. In addition to charity care, revenues from the stores also fund programs and services that are not reimbursed by Medicare, including Camp Safe Haven, a grief camp for children and teens, Healing Hearts Grief Support, and the We Honor Heroes Program for veteran and first responder recognition, Jones added.
“Our six stores are dependent on community support. Community members can help us celebrate National Hospice Month by supporting their local Attic Resale Store,” Jones explained.
One way community members can support their Attic Resale Store is through donation of new or gently used items for sale within their local Attic Resale Store. Haven accepts new items ranging from housewares and furniture to clothing and children’s toys. Donation guidelines can be found at https://beyourhaven.org/attic. Donors can even schedule a pick-up for large items like furniture by calling their local store.
Another way community members can support Haven is by shopping at an Attic Resale Store. The stores receive new items every day, keeping inventory fresh. Shoppers never know what unique items they will find. Shoppers will find seasonal décor, gifts, everyday items, and more. Every dollar benefits hospice patients and families, as well as those in the community utilizing Haven’s free programs and services.
In addition, Jones noted, Haven’s Attic Stores are always looking for volunteers. The stores offer a variety of flexible volunteer opportunities to accommodate each individual’s skills and schedule. The Attic Stores are always looking for friendly faces to work the cash register, receive donations, and merchandise items. Prospective volunteers can apply online or call or visit their nearest location to sign up.
Clay Dzioba, Haven manager of Attic volunteer services, made a call for volunteers to become involved in their local store this National Hospice Month.
“National Hospice Month is a time to raise awareness about hospice care and recognize the contributions made by hospice staff and volunteers. Each day, our donors, shoppers and volunteers at the Attic Stores do just that: They support Haven Hospice in their own way,” said Dzioba. “Haven improves the quality of life for its patients and their families, and the six Attic Resale Stores help make that happen financially. This National Hospice Month, we welcome anyone who wishes to join us in this mission.”
About National Hospice Month: The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) designates November as a month to educate communities and raise awareness about high-quality care for people living with serious and life-limiting illnesses. This year’s campaign focuses on the difficult, courageous conversations that patients must have with themselves, family, friends and doctors to determine the type of death they want – one that matches up with their values and desires – and one that allows them to have a say in their own end-of-life journey.