Fairview International Falls Hospice & Palliative Care recently was awarded $500 from the International Falls Ruby’s Pantry Benevolence Fund to enhance its work.
The goals of Fairview International Falls Hospice & Palliative Care are to educate, promote, and advocate for the availability and use of advance care planning, palliative care, and hospice for all people with serious illnesses, said Lee Grim, Ruby’s Pantry promotions co-coordinator. Palliative care goals involve relieving physical symptoms and attending to psychological and spiritual pain and suffering, as well as concerns of family members. Palliative care is appropriate at all stages of serious illnesses, including along with curative treatments.
FIFHPC also advocates for the availability of excellent hospice care, which offers patients with life limiting illnesses the option of living the way they choose, with the goal of making every day the best day possible. Hospice team members will assist patients in examining and relieving their fears and sources of suffering, said Grim. Hospice helps patients stay as independent and as comfortable as long as possible, and attends to their physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs, and supports caregivers, family and loved ones.
Lois Lundin, Barb Johnson and Lee Grim of Ruby’s Pantry staff presented the donation from the International Falls Ruby’s Pantry Benevolence Fund to cover expenses for supplies and items not covered by Medicare insurance.
Every Ruby’s Pop-Up Pantry guest that donates $20 American cash at a Ruby’s Pantry food distribution donates $2 dollars of the $20 to the International Falls Benevolence Fund. Upon request, money from the fund is then distributed to nonprofit organizations or groups in the greater International Falls area.
Community members that have attended Ruby’s monthly distributions have donated $21,150 in response to more than 30 requests to the benevolence committee. Committee guidelines for requesting funds can be obtained by calling Backus Community Center at 285-7225.
The next Ruby’s Pop-up Pantry distribution is at 5 p.m. May 14 at Backus Community Center. Anyone who eats qualifies to participate, notes Grim.
