BALLSTON SPA — On a freezing Wednesday night, January 17th from 5:30-8:30 there was an open house for the local “100% Volunteer Donor Driven Community-Owned Charitable Hospice Residence,” referred to as “The Gateway House of Peace.” This event included tours of the partially completed hospice residence, and the viewing of a signed Eli Manning Giants NFL football soon to be raffled off. Donations were accepted from guests who also enjoyed a variety of as food and drink.
A highlight of the event was the arrival of Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, accompanied by Ballston Spa Mayor, John Romano. They were greeted by Joni Hanchett who is heading the creation and construction of the Hospice Residence as well as our local district of Social Services and Adult Protective Caseworkers who also attended the event.
“The construction of the hospice house has been made mostly from donated items,” said Joni Hanchett, who organized this event.
The house is still under renovation, and will take time, love, and community commitment in the form of donations, fundraising and volunteering in order to finish. The house used to be owned by the Red Cross but a project in 2006 started the transformation of a vacant unused space to a place of comfort, security, and support to individuals and families have been stricken with the devastation that a diagnosis of terminal illness can bring. The home will have two private patient rooms with 24-hour care being provided. It also has two private rooms for a family member.
“The local Lions Club adopted the kitchen,” added Joni Hanchett, applauding the members for their efforts in taking the house under their wing.
Later into the evening, Brianne Rogers, Shaina Schulz, and Haley Pawlowski, officers of the Galway High School Student Senate, delivered a check for five hundred dollars in donations. The money was raised during the the “Penny Wars” held at the high school during their annual spirit week.
Raffle tickets for the Eli Manning signed football will be sold for ten dollars a piece. To find out more information about purchasing raffle tickets or contributing to the cause, please visit; http://www.gatewayhouseofpeace.org/