Surrey Hospice Society executive director Marion Brandner says service wait times will be shorter following recent renovations.
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ShareImproved counselling centre complete
By Christine Lyon - Surrey North Delta Leader
Published: September 02, 2008 3:00 PM
Updated: September 02, 2008 4:41 PM
The Surrey Hospice Society’s newly renovated Resource and Support Centre is complete after two years of planning, fundraising and construction.
The $160,000 makeover – funded entirely by donations – will be officially unveiled at a grand opening ceremony Sept. 16. The new facility will be put to use starting Sept. 23.
The Surrey Hospice Society supports individuals and families facing life-threatening illnesses. Staff and volunteers operate at the Surrey Memorial Hospital palliative care unit and Laurel Place – a 20-bed residence which opened in May.
Located at 13857 68 Ave., the support centre is used for grief counselling and volunteer training. Children, teens, young adults, adults, parents and families who are grieving the loss of loved ones can receive one-on-one and group counselling.
The improved centre features separate offices for all counsellors, allowing them to meet with clients in private.
There is a boardroom with a donated table and chairs, a family meeting room where families can consult with a clinical counsellor, and a children’s room paid for by Ronald McDonald House Charities.
“It’s got a lovely mural that the children are going to just love when they come in,” said Marion Brandner, executive director of the Surrey Hospice Society.
The expanded facility should eliminate wait lists since there will be enough space to run several programs simultaneously.
“We were having to juggle and sometimes put off programs in the past until there was space available. Now we don’t have that problem,” Brandner said.
The next step, she said, is to raise funds to expand the existing programs.
The grand opening is Sept. 16 from 5-7 p.m. The evening will include a tour of the new space and acknowledge the donors that made it possible.
For more information on the Surrey Hospice Society or to donate, visit www.surreyhospice.com
clyon@surreyleader.com
