5/15/2009

Two local American Legion posts recently donated a total of $8,200 to Susquehanna Health’s Gatehouse Hospice Unit through fundraisers held to honor past members who received care at the Hospice. The Garrett Cochran Post 1 benefit and dart tournament raised $7,600 and was held as a tribute to member Terry Brown’s father, “Sonny” Brown, who was a Gatehouse patient prior to his passing.

Sponsored by the West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association, Post 1’s Gatehouse Benefit was organized by Janet Ardell and Dianne McAlister—assisted by individuals who donated food for the pot-luck dinner and volunteered their time to ensure the success of the event. T-shirts and sweatshirts created by Jennifer McHenery were also sold to help in the fundraising effort.

In addition, members of the George W. Pepperman Post 36, Jersey Shore, submitted a donation of $600 in one dollar bills with the letter G (symbolizing Gatehouse) in the serial number. “We are honored and grateful to have received such generous donations from these two American Legion posts,” says Hospice Medical Director Alexander Nesbitt, M.D. “These gifts will assist us in our efforts to provide the quality of care and comfort our hospice patients expect and deserve as they reach the end of their lives.”

The Gatehouse is a seven-bed inpatient hospice unit located at the Divine Providence Hospital. Hospice care is available to patients who need specialized pain and symptom management or are in the end stages of life.