News

Woodstock, Ontario – VON Oxford Sakura House is celebrating its official 10th year anniversary on Thursday, September 5th with a celebration to mark the event with staff, volunteers, donors and community partners.

VON Sakura House opened its doors in September of 2009 after many years of hard work and dedication from numerous individuals in our community and the generous and steadfast relationship with Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMCC) who donated the original house for only $2.00. It has been truly inspiring to see the community of support that has formed for this 10-bed residential hospice since it opened.

VON Sakura House has grown its services to serve the community and created a space where life is celebrated, fear and pain is eased and families can come together. Over these 10 years VON Sakura House has served 1,543 patients and 6,172 family members.

“We are honoured to have the support of more than 35,000 donors and 339 volunteers over these past 10 years. Our work doesn’t stop here and we are thankful to have our community at our side to continue to provide hospice care in our community for decades to come,” says John Goodbun, President, VON Oxford Community Corporation.

The “10 years of caring” theme was chosen because it represents the caring roles our community has played to make Sakura House what it is today and will be in the future. “From our volunteers, to our staff, to our donors, to our partners, and to the citizens of Oxford County – together, we care for our loved ones, our neighbours, and our citizens during some of the most difficult moments in their lives. We all care about giving individuals the respect, compassion and dignity they deserve at the end of life,” says Janine Jackson, Care & Service Manager, VON Sakura House.

This celebration event will feature a special recognition ceremony to honour the contributions of staff and volunteers who have provided 10 years of service at Sakura House. VON Sakura House will continue their 10-year anniversary celebrations at the 2019 Hike for Hospice on Saturday, September 21st at Roth Park. If you are interested in hiking or making a 10th year anniversary donation, please visit www.vonsakurahouse.com or www.vonoxford.ca.

Event details for photo opportunity:

Thursday, September 5, 2019
4:00pm to 6:00pm (Formal remarks at 5:00pm)
VON Sakura House
715180 Oxford Rd 4
Woodstock, ON N4S 7V9

For more information, please contact:

Trish Gergich
Manager, Fund Development
519-539-1231 ext 269 or trish.gergich@von.ca
Cell: 519-476-8848

VON Canada is a not-for-profit, charitable home and community care organization. VON Sakura House is one of over a dozen programs delivered to the communities of Oxford County by VON Oxford. VON Sakura House is a 10-bed residential hospice where palliative care is provided to patients 24 hours a day by a team of specially trained physicians, nurses, personal support workers, and volunteers. All at no charge to the patient. VON Sakura House opened its doors to patients in September 2009. VON Sakura House costs approximately $1.6 million each year to operate. Government funding covers the costs associated with front-line nursing staff and patient care. All other remaining costs are covered by fundraising dollars. Our youngest patient was 20 years old and our eldest 103; with the average age of a patient at VON Sakura House being 72 years old. Since opening, we have supported more than 1,500 patients and their families through their end-of-life journeys.