City

Published on Thursday, May 8, 2008

Hospice needs donations to maintain level of care for its patients
By JOHN BACHMANN

DeKalb County Hospice has helped the community for years, but it also needs support.

Hospice Tag Days will be accepting donations from local businesses on Friday and Saturday to get that help.

The purpose of Tag Days is to help support and raise donations for the hospice, which it has done for 20 years.

When a person donates to the hospice, they will receive a tag filled with information about it.

Val Heintz, volunteer program coordinator for DeKalb County Hospice, said fundraising is crucial to their organization.

“For each patient we have, we receive reimbursements from Medicare, but it’s not enough,” she said.

Heintz said that although they are in need of funding, they won’t turn down any patient.

“We do not deny service to anyone, even if they can’t afford to be here,” she said.

Diane Hance, secretary and health home aide of DeKalb County Hospice, said hospice awareness is important.

“Bringing awareness about the hospice is important to the community and to those who are shopping during the tag days,” she said.

Volunteers from DeKalb County will be at various locations around the area collecting donations.

Joe Bussone, resident of Sycamore and long time volunteer, said helping the hospice is something very personal to him.

“My wife used be a volunteer for them and I want to be able to help them in their time of need,” he said.

Bussone has helped out with Tag Days since it first started and has worked with various charity groups for over 40 years.

Comment On This Article

All comments are moderated before being published. We will not edit your comments, but we also will not approve those that are abusive, off-topic, attack another poster or contain information we know to be libelous or false.

During peak weekday viewing times, most comments will be reviewed within six hours. For more detailed information, click here.

After submitting your comment, check below for a confirmation message.


  • Your name:
  • Enter text from image:
  • Your comment:
Sign up to receive Northern Star headlines in your inbox, delivered weekdays at 6 a.m.


Feedback? E-mail us.
Question of the Day
Are you staying in DeKalb over the summer?
Yep, I'll be in a residence hall or an apartment.
Nope, hometown here I come.

Real-time updates of recently viewed articles on the site.

1  From superman to suspects: Police sketch...

2  'Speed Racer' drives expectations into ground

3  The Northern Star's Top 5 stories of the year

4  Sheriff's deputies to begin carrying Tasers

5  Center offers screening day for depression