Donations have already been coming in during recent months, but the Prescott and Russell Residence Foundation’s Lift Me Up! Campaign has just officially begun.
The $1 million fundraising campaign to purchase 204 Maxi Sky patient lifts for rooms at the new $75.8 million Residence being constructed on Spence Avenue in Hawkesbury was officially launched at the Vankleek Hill Vineyard on Tuesday, April 2. All but 20 beds at the new 224-bed long-term care facility will have the Maxi Sky lifts. The cost of the lifts is not included in the construction cost for the new Residence.
“This campaign is of paramount importance for residents who depend on this equipment for their daily well-being. Additionally, it will ensure a state-of-the-art working environment, guaranteeing the retention of highly qualified staff,” Prescott and Russell Residence Foundation President Denise Robitaille said.
“Today, we are addressing a pressing need by ensuring adequate access to modern and safe lifting equipment,” she remarked.
The Maxi Sky patient lifts are being promoted as more than just mechanical devices. They are described by the foundation as something which embodies autonomy, dignity, and comfort for residents facing physical challenges.
“Every donation, regardless of its amount, will contribute to changing lives. For every donation of $3,300, a plaque with your name or your family’s name will be installed on the door of a resident in memory of your generous donation,” Robitaille said.
“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all those and organizations who have already contributed to the purchase of these vital motors,” she added.
On April 2, four additional donations of $3,300 each to the Lift Me Up! Campaign were announced. The donations are from the Hawkesbury Rotary Club, East Hawkesbury United Church, the family of Colombe and Paul Gougeon, and the family of Claude Thériault.
The Prescott and Russell Residence is owned and operated by the United Counties of Prescott and Russell as part of the responsibility local governments in Ontario have to maintain public, long-term care facilities. The new facility in Hawkesbury, which will replace the 47-year-old building on Cartier Boulevard, is to be ready for occupancy in fall, 2024.
For more information on the Lift Me Up! Campaign, the Prescott and Russell Residence Foundation, and how to contribute, go to https://en.prescott-russell.on.ca/stay/prescott_and_russell_residence/residence_foundation.
Submitted photos by Watson Productions
