Image Credit: CFJC Today / Jill Sperling

By Jill Sperling

Hospice Auction

Support group builds planters to auction off for hospice

Jun 1, 2020 | 4:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Hospice Association is having to come up with new ways to raise essential funds after the annual Evening to Remember Gala was cancelled due to COVID-19. The association’s thrift store has also been closed.

“It’s really a change for us,” said Executive Director Wendy Marlow. “I think virtual fundraising will be part of our future no matter where things go with our gala, but our gala was to raise $170,000 this year.”

Marlow says the gala was going to highlight some of its groups.

“We have a men’s group, and they built some beautiful planters and planted them,” she said. “We were going to have them share their story at our gala and auction off these beautiful planters. And so, we said, you know, let’s do it anyway. They’ve worked hard at them, the men are an amazing group, they just want to give back to hospice.”

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Dave Hilton joined the Men’s Good Mourning Coffee Club two years ago after his wife passed away.

“I’ve found it very beneficial,” he said. “I’ve found that it’s helped me in terms of I’ve met new people through it that are experiencing the same sort of thing that I’ve gone through, so it’s been very helpful that way.”

The idea for building the planters came out of the group’s desire to show their appreciation for hospice.

“Originally we were going to build the planters and just have them stay here,” Hilton said, “and then somebody came up with the idea, ‘why don’t we try and auction them off.’ And, with COVID-19 that even sort of became more important, I think. I’m looking forward to seeing what they go for.”

The pair of planters will be up for auction until 7 p.m. on June 15.