This Christmas the Herald is again featuring charities which have been selected for a $10,000 donation from Auckland Airport. Eleven charities have been chosen and the 12th donation will go to the families of the Pike River 29. The $120,000 came from change given by travellers at the airport this year.
Arohanui Hospice in Palmerston North will spend its $10,000 on a new communications system to keep in closer touch with its residents in the community.
The facility is one of 12 organisations to receive a grant from Auckland Airport's 12 Days of Christmas giveaway.
With up to 200 people being cared for by staff out in the community, the hospice has decided a new telephone and computer system is most needed, as their current one has been unreliable.
Chief executive Clare Randall said it was vital their communications system be renewed as most of the hospice residents lived in rural areas.
"As a palliative care service, we care for people from a wide rural area. We look after between 180 to 200 people at any one time. Most of our residents are cared for out in the community," she said.
"We keep in touch with [carers] by phone and through the computer network and using the internet. So we really need the communications system to be okay."
The hospice provides palliative care for dozens of people in the Manawatu, Tararua, Horowhenua and Rangitikei regions.
By the end of any given year the hospice can have looked after about 650 people throughout the community.
Ms Randall said a new communications system would cost between $14,000 and $18,000.
Although the hospice received up to 60 per cent of its funding from the district health board, much of its other money came from donations from the public, as well as grants.
"There's lots of things we need money for. We need to replace some of our beds. Hospital beds have a limited life, so we need to make sure that our beds and mattresses are looked after," she said.
Ms Randall thanked Auckland Airport for the grant, and for its help towards the other charities in the 12 Days of Christmas initiative.
