Retail giant Dollar General supports local hospice mission

Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based retail giant Dollar General is helping to further hospice care in Niagara County by donating the phone number 716-467-7423 to Niagara Hospice. The number spells out a word famous for making a difference for patients and families faced with serious illness: 716-HOSPICE. Held previously by Dollar General's regional loss prevention manager Mike Ketchmark, 716-HOSPICE is now live and connects callers directly to Niagara Hospice.

Ketchmark recently donated his company cell phone number to Niagara Hospice for use in promotional and recruitment efforts.

"When I was approached about making the donation, it was an easy decision to make, because I knew it would help individuals find the hospice care they need," he said. "I actually received phone calls in the past from people looking for hospice services without realizing the connection to the number; making the transfer seemed the right thing to do."

Several employees in Dollar General's corporate office, as well as Ketchmark, donated their time to help make the transfer possible. Niagara Hospice expressed gratitude to Ketchmark and Dollar General for the gift and supporting the mission of hospice care in Niagara County.

Niagara Hospice Director of Marketing and Public Relations Tricia Degan said, "The main Niagara Hospice number of 716-439-4417 that has been in use for the past 26 years will continue to be active. The addition of 716-HOSPICE is a number people will be better able to remember should they have a need to call for information, a referral or support and other resources for which Niagara Hospice has become long known."

For more information, visit www.NiagaraHospice.org or call 716-HOSPICE.