Capital Campaign

Dear Friends,

For many years, a group of community leaders has dreamed of bringing an independent hospice residence to Barry County for terminally ill patients to spend their final days. Currently, families with loved ones who are dying and for whom they can no longer provide care must travel to other communities for hospice care in a residential setting. This is difficult for patients and for families as travel and distance become an additional burden during a very difficult season of life.

As a result, planning for a six-bed hospice house—Serenity Village— in our region has been ongoing for several years. We’ve made remarkable progress in a short time, including:

• Acquiring land for the facility through a generous donation by Al and Pam Jarvis
• Visiting with other regional hospice houses to determine the best practices for the operation of Serenity Village
• Working with architects to design a comfortable and efficient space that will best serve our community
• Securing several lead gifts to this effort

As our community ages and more local citizens face end-of-life decisions, we believe it is critically important to provide quality care for the terminally ill when staying at home becomes impractical or impossible. To that end, we have recently initiated A Time to Build— a $2 million fundraising campaign to build Serenity Village. In the coming months, members of our Campaign Cabinet will be seeking the support of individuals, families, local businesses and area foundations.

As a result of this effort and in partnership with our friends and supporters, Serenity Village—with its trained staff—will provide a local residential setting where dying patients can continue in the care of their family and their own hospice caregivers. Please join us in supporting this impactful campaign—A Time to Build—as we seek to offer a place for peace and comfort to area patients and their families during their most difficult times.

Sincerely,