Hospice at Jeanne's House staff 'Bake for Blossoms'

Staff from Hospice at Jeanne's House - a Northgate health care facility and Niagara Hospice collaboration - hosted a bake sale April 7 thanks to a generous number of donated baked goods. Lisa Kurilovitch and Kristin Human, both Niagara Hospice "Hospicetality" advocates, and Carla Marsh, director of specialty social work services at Northgate, coordinated the sale to raise funds for a garden for Hospice at Jeanne's House residents.

The bake sale was a success, with about 15 different baked goods sold, raising $160.

"We could not have done it without all the generous donations and support of the Niagara Hospice and Northgate staff, as well as some of the residents and their families," Kurilovitch said. "The residents are really looking forward to warmer weather and being able to plant and take care of a garden."

She said several residents are experienced with agriculture, having grown up on farms, owning a farm, or even just having had a green thumb as a hobby. Those residents, especially, are looking forward to once again taking part in an activity they enjoyed so much in the past.

Marsh said, "This bake sale was very beneficial to residents and their families, because it gave them a chance to help a good cause. It would be great to see this become an activity in other facilities."

Proceeds from the sale will help to purchase annual and perennial flowers, herbs and patio tomato plants for the gardens located in the courtyard outside the Hospice at Jeanne's House unit at Northgate Health Care Facility in North Tonawanda. Marsh said plans are in the works to plant lavender that can be enjoyed throughout the summer and then harvested in early fall to be used in craft activities with residents. Mint also will be grown and enjoyed in summer tea beverages.

Anyone wishing to further contribute to the cause can mail a check to Northgate Health Care Facility at 7264 Nash Road, North Tonawanda, NY, 14120, to the attention of Hospice at Jeanne's House Gardens. Donors can call Marsh at Northgate for more information at 716-694-7700.

Visit www.NiagaraHospice.org or www.McGuireGroup.com.