Agency remodels former Fannin Hallmark store

 

After being vacant for nearly a year, the former Fannin Hallmark store now has a new tenant.

Since July, Community Hospice has worked to remodel the building from a large retail showroom into office space for its clinical and administrative staff. On Friday, staff worked to move furniture and supplies into the new office while a crew installed a security system and the sign out front was given a fresh coat of paint.

Susan Hunt, executive director of Community Hospice, said the non-profit organization had begun to outgrow its previous location on South Ninth Street.

“The building there was just really small and our staff has grown over the years and we just needed more space, meeting space for groups,” Hunt said. “And parking was a problem as well.”

The open floor plan of the former retail shop has been transformed to provide separate offices for employees, a reception area, storage for supplies, records room and a kitchenette.

“We divided it off into offices so each of our employees will have some privacy and also some space for people to come in a have support groups,” Hunt said.

The office will be a base for administrative staff, as well as clinical staff members who serve patients in Ohio, Hunt said.

The office is expected to open this week.

The location will also be host to the Greater Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce business after-hours mixer from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 8.

And while hospice continues to grow, the need for volunteers is growing as well, Hunt said.

“We need volunteers to visit with patients, provide companionship and respite services for out patients, both at home and in the nursing homes,” Hunt said. “We also need volunteer to help with clerical duties in the office.”

Other volunteers make deliveries to patients’ homes or make bereavement phone calls.

The next training session for volunteers is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 8-10 at the new office location. Interested volunteers can contact LuAnn Vance, volunteer director, at (606) 329-1890, or call the Ironton office at (740) 532-8841.

Others interested in supporting hospice in a different way can sign up for the third annual Run in Remembrance 5K on Oct. 19.

The race starts at 8:30 a.m. at Ninth and Heplar streets. The cost is $20 for pre-registration before Oct. 12 and $25 after.

“It’s an opportunity for us to raise money which go towards all of our bereavement services, which are offered free to the public and patients who we take care of that have no reimburser or can’t afford to pay services,” Hunt said.

Hunt said Community Hospice helps about 250 to 300 people each year.

“We are an aging population. Projections for the need for end-of-life care is that there will be a growth in hospice over the next five to 10 years,” Hunt said. “We just want to make sure everyone that is facing a terminal illness, that they are aware that hospice available and what services we can do to help them. We really firmly believe when we are involved with a patient at the end of life, we help them have a better quality of life. We can help them remain at home and remain comfortable, be with their families and loves ones. Just have the best quality of life possible.”