by Michele Gillis, Staff Writer
The Haven Hospice Attic Store wants your help and in return you can help your customers rid themselves of unwanted items, meet new customers in the process and help Haven Hospice provide unfunded hospice care and programs.
It's a win-win for everyone involved, they say. And Realtors can be a big part of it.
Haven Hospice is a not-for-profit organization that offers end-of-life and palliative care in its new Haven Hospice Care Center on Blanding Boulevard, which was completed in August and in patient's homes. "We average about 9 or 10 patients each day," said Michael Ingram, manager of Retail Operations, Haven Hospice. "It's the only care center in Clay County."
Haven Hospice has served more than 50,000 patients and families since 1979 as a not-for-profit hospice.
Generally, hospice care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance, but many of the programs and services that Haven offers are not reimbursed.
One of the primary fundraising avenues for Haven Hospice is their Attic resale stores. The most recent store was opened in March of last year and every task required to efficiently run a store from the cashier to large donation pick-up is performed by volunteers.
All the proceeds from the Haven Hospice Attic Store go to support unfunded hospice care and programs in each of the communities they serve which includes paying for patients who would not otherwise be able to afford hospice care. Haven Hospice Attic stores are in Chiefland, Lake City, Gainesville and Orange Park.
"All the items in the store have been donated by the community," said Ingram. "Many of the people who donate items have been affected in some way by hospice or one of their family members was provided hospice care. Many of our volunteers have been affected by hospice care and they want to give back. They don't want to get involved in the clinical side because it's very emotional, so this is a good way for them to channel that energy without being involved in that."
The store is set up like a department store with different departments to fit your needs including household, men's, women's and children's clothes, and furniture.
Ingram said they offer many brand name items for a fraction of the cost.
"Many people donate because they are getting rid of items or downsizing," said Ingram. "As far as Realtors go, many of their customers are moving into a smaller home and rather than those items going into the landfill as they often do, they can bring them here. They donate to us and we sell them. If a Realtor goes to home to stage it and see the person needs to de-clutter or get rid of some items to make the home more appealing to sell, they can donate them here. Everyone who donates gets a tax-deductible receipt."
That's where real estate professionals come in.
Realtors can organize a donation drive in any community and set up marketing items to network with the people who come into drop off donations which will be picked up by the Haven Hospice truck, which was donated by the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.
Realtors can also call for the truck to pick up furniture and household goods on listings, REO cleanout or downsizing clients.
Volunteer opportunities with Haven Hospice include donation drive coordinator, donation intake, housewares sorting and pricing, clothing sorting, jewelry sorting, Internet pricing, cashier and more.
They do ask that volunteers give at least four hours a month.
"We screen every volunteer with a background check so that everyone knows they are in a safe working environment," said Ingram. "We want them to have a fun experience and we do have a lot of fun here. There is one group of ladies in one of our other stores that volunteer every Tuesday. There are probably 10 of them and they go to lunch together afterwards. Maybe there is a group of Realtors who would like to do that."
Don Mullinax, chairman of the NEFAR Community Affairs Task Force, said volunteering or organizing a donation drive is a win-win for everyone.
"Be a NEFAR volunteer and assist at the Attic store where you can meet many donors and shoppers who could be your next client," said Mullinax. "Our membership can work together on a Haven Hospice Donation Drive opportunity to provide benefit to the community, recognition for NEFAR and its members as well as business opportunities for the volunteers involved."