The first and one of the biggest steps has been taken with the Hearthstone Community Campaign landing on firm financial footing.
With over $8 million now raised for a new regional nursing home in Estevan, two years ahead of the fundraising committee’s schedule, they are anxiously awaiting the announcement of Step Two.
The $8 million represents the expected 20 per cent of the total cost to build a new 72 to 80 bed Level III and IV residence for senior citizens who require assistance to maintain a quality lifestyle.
The impetus for the project began several years before the fundraising began, but the plans rolled out in fine order according to one woman, who was in the first group that got the ball rolling.
Marguerite Gallaway, who served a six-year term on the Sun Country Regional Health Authority’s board of directors, said that getting a little momentum on the project was a priority for her as early as 2007.
“The need was evident. All you had to do was look at what the current facility was having to deal with. It is a facility that was behind the times and they were asking staff to perform against the odds,” said Gallaway.
She said she recalled hosting the very first “living room meetings” that included Don Kindopp, the chairman of St. Joseph’s Hospital board, Eric and Irma Pullam, Arlene Anderson, Jim Pratt and Vern Buck. She apologizes if she has forgotten others that were involved in those first few sessions.
“We were all in agreement, I remember that clearly,” she said with a chuckle. “It was time to get things going.”
So they did, and that eventually evolved into the formation of the Hearthstone Community Campaign. The group set a five-year timeline in 2011 for collecting the necessary $8 million and ended up completing the task in three.
“We received 1,147 unique donations,” said Tania Andrist, communications co-ordinator for the project, citing information coming from treasurer Vivian Lindblad. That works out to nearly $7,000 per donation with some of those entering the six-figure range while others came in through the always-open smaller sized donation door. All were welcomed and appreciated.
Gallaway said Estevan and area residents and businesses once again rose to the challenge and responded well beyond expectations in terms of both funding and time.
“Now we have to get it on the planning and construction screen,” she said.
For that, the committee that is being struck to move the project into the next phase of development, will need the blessing of the Sun Country Health Region and the Ministry of Health.
“Yes, on the regional side they need a new hospital in Weyburn, but these projects are on separate channels and a major project in Weyburn should not have a financial or timeline impact on a new nursing home for Estevan and area,” said Gallaway.
“In a time of shrinking budgets, which we could be entering right now, I still see all kinds of opportunities. The new nursing home might even be able to come in at less than the talked about $40 million and provide all the quality items required without having to squeeze the dollar.”
Building the nursing home near, or attached to, St. Joseph’s has some practical advantages she acknowledges, but the veteran fundraiser and community volunteer said she hoped the new residence would provide an environment and ambiance that one sees in a caring home-like atmosphere, not an acute-care facility.
“I expect the planning phase to get underway soon and it will be great to see it gain momentum,” she added.
“The campaign gave everyone a chance to participate and the committee did wonderful work. I know I took a leave-of-absence for awhile when my husband (Ron) was ill, but when I came back, it was wonderful to see how the donations came in and how Estevan wasn’t about to raise the funds slowly. The funds were available and they gave to this project,” she said.
Part of the next phase will be the divestment of the existing nursing home building and property on Wellock Road that extends over about two acres. Gallaway said it is recorded in the Sun Country minutes and letters of intent, that money realized from any sale of that property, is to be directed toward the new facility and its needs, which will include post-construction furnishings and equipment that will ease the workload for employees and provide comfort for residents.
