Mercy Palliative Care has received a $17,000 donation from the Sunshine Lions Club to help support members of the community grieving the loss of a loved one.
The money will enable the construction and furnishing of two new rooms for the specialist bereavement counselling service —Mercy Grief Services (MGS) based in Sunshine.
MGS Counsellor and Coordinator Garrett O’Dowd said with more people moving to Melbourne’s inner west there was an ever increasing demand on counselling services in the region.
“Our service responds to the needs of individuals and families experiencing complicated grief issues following the death of a family member, partner or close friend,” Mr O’Dowd explained.
“The creation of two new welcoming counselling spaces will allow us to sensitively and compassionately empower more people to deal with their grief.”
The Sunshine Lions Club has had a 30-year association with Mercy Palliative Care formerly known as Mercy Hospice Care.
Club member Mike Hereward said the community group was actively looking for local projects to support to coincide with the Lions Clubs International centennial celebrations.
“Six years ago we donated $30,000 to Mercy Palliative Care for the purchase of syringe drivers, a small portable device which allows the continuous infusion of medications at a patient’s home, and we’re thrilled to be able to help the organisation again,” Mr Hereward said.
“We do the majority of our fundraising through sausage sizzles which means everyone in the community is contributing to our donations in their own way.”
Mercy Palliative Care is a 24-hour service supporting people with an incurable illness who live in the western region of Melbourne. Mercy Palliative Care also supports patients’ families and carers.
Download full media release ( PDF, 205.5K )Last reviewed December 19, 2017.
