23-05-2025
Rally for McNally campaign needs $2 million
A $2-million fundraising campaign is kicking off to help finish construction of McNally House Hospice in Grimsby.
Dubbed 'Rally for McNally,' the campaign aims to bring in the final funds needed for a new 10-bed, 20,000-square-foot hospice currently under construction.
'This is where we're asking our community to really step up and help us complete this goal and everybody can help in some way,' said Amanda Black, campaign manager/community engagement co-ordinator at the hospice.
Assuming no postal strike, fundraising letters will be mailed to 29,000 households in west Niagara next month. Hospice officials will also be collecting donations at local festivals and events.
'For the month of June, we're asking our community to rally with us to complete this final $2 million,' Black said.
The overall cost of the new facility has risen from the initial $16-million estimate to $19 million.
'Once we went to tender, it was quite a bit more,' said hospice executive director Pamela Blackwood, who attributed the increase since last year to the rising cost of construction and building materials.
Blackwood noted project subcontractors have told them some of the required building materials are sourced in the U.S., and they will be purchasing those materials in advance to avoid possible tariffs in the months ahead.
'They're saying just in case, let's purchase it now,' Blackwood said.
The hospice has raised about $14.5 million from nearly 250 donors since the campaign began in 2020. In addition, the province is contributing $1 million,
Niagara Region
$1.1 million, the
Town of Lincoln
$115,000, the
Town of Grimsby
$97,793, and the
Township of West Lincoln
$70,000.
An aerial view of the McNally House Hospice construction site.
While a ceremonial groundbreaking was held last June, Blackwood noted the actual work began in early January, adding the basement walls have gone up and work on the basement floor of the two-storey building will begin in the coming days.
'They're forming up the main floor now,' Blackwood said. 'Baring a few delays with weather, we're on schedule.'
The new building is expected to be completed by mid-April next year, with the hospice moving in and opening by early June. The expansion will increase capacity from six to 10 beds and staffing from 31 to 55 employees, including additional nurses and personal support workers.
Blackwood noted the residential portion of the new hospice will be housed on the main floor, while the second floor will include administrative offices, a family suite and a living room.
Once the new hospice opens, the current facility on Central Avenue will undergo eight months of renovations to transform it into a space for outreach programs and day services.
Blackwood said they will be offering day programs for people who require care and their caregivers.
'What we find most importantly is patients and their caregivers are sent home from the hospital with not all the tools they need to be a caregiver at home, (such as) calculating medications and getting up in the night and learning how to change bedsheets when somebody's in bed,' Blackwood said.
'All these practical things that are part of our day hospice will be that education and support of walking along side these caregivers as they're at home and trying to manage.'
Blackwood said while she expects the new beds to fill up quickly, the expanded residence will enable them to offer respite services when beds are available.
These services would allow someone who is receiving home-care, but not ready for hospice care, to stay at the hospice temporarily to give their family and caregivers a break.
Blackwood said hospice residents are referred there by their family doctor, hospital officials or even by self referral.
The average stay is 12 days.
