Hospice receives donations from Temple

By AZIA LI FORREST, DAILY SUN

THE VILLAGES —Tuesday was a special day for residents and employees at Cornerstone Hospice House in The Villages.

The Villagers for Hospice received checks from The New Jewish Congregation of Temple Shalom to go toward construction of a new Hospice House, which will be another 12-bedroom facility built next to Cornerstone Hospice House on County Road 466 near Morse Boulevard.

“Hospice is local and it has been used by our members, and probably by them in the future, so it is worthwhile to help them,” said Bonnie Klepner, president of the Sisterhood of Temple Shalom.

Three checks — $500 from the Sisterhood of Temple Shalom, $400 from the Brotherhood of Temple Shalom, and $400 from the temple — were given to The Villagers for Hospice.

“When they complete the new building, we will hopefully have a room dedicated to the temple,” Klepner said.

She said it’s a good feeling to know that her congregation is helping people within the community.

“Hospice is something that a lot of people don’t like to deal with, or talk about,” she said, “but it is a necessary entity.

“The people who work here are wonderful,” Klepner said. “Most people could not do what they do, and so any way we can help Hospice to make these people’s lives easier, we are willing to do.”

Arlene Bentz, president of The Villagers for Hospice, said she was both proud and honored to be associated with Temple Shalom.

“We could not continue to do what we are doing without organizations such as Temple Shalom,” the Village of La Hacienda East resident said. “We have many organizations in The Villages that give to us, and if you go into the first Hospice House, you’ll see that many of the rooms are named after clubs in The Villages.

“Everyone contributes, because they know that someday they may need to be here or know someone that needs to be here,” Bentz said.

All funds raised for The Villagers for Hospice stay within Cornerstone Hospice House in The Villages.

Bentz also said that these donations bring the total contributed by The New Jewish Congregation of Temple Shalom to more than $10,000 toward having a room in the new hospice house named after the temple.

Azia Li Forrest is a reporter with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9069, or azia.forrest@thevillagesmedia.com.