A Christmas Gift For The Region

“I wanted it to be something that would benefit more than just the immediate people in Defiance,” said Matt Joost of Re/Max. “The hospice center helps a six-county area. I really feel we are so fortunate to have a facility like that here. Not everyone has a 24-hour facility.”

Joost approached the Northwestern Ohio Board of Realtors to get support for a project at the center. On Oct. 28, Make a Difference Day, the group went out to the CHP Defiance In-patient Hospice Center and worked on the landscaping around the center.

“We had 20 yards of mulch donated by Werlor (Waste Control) and Ben Varner (and his crew) of Ben’s Mowing Service came out and helped us spread all that mulch,” Joost said. Several organizations also helped such as Defiance Water Recreation, who hauled the mulch, and Goin’ Postal of Defiance.

However, that was just an immediate project, there was something else that was needed.

When he had reached out to Rhonda Leininger, marketing coordinator for CHP Defiance In-patient Hospice Center, to ask about the center’s needs, Joost found out about something else that was desperately needed.

“The building is 10 years old now, and there are some things that need to be upgraded, like the furniture in the patient rooms and in the beautiful lobby,” said Leininger. “Also, each room has an information board for the patient and family members that after 10 years, needs replaced.”

“They are on limited funds,” Joost said. “They really were in need of new furniture for all 12 patient rooms, especially new love seats and single recliners, as well as white boards for the nurses.”

Joost decided to spearhead a fundraising effort to get the furniture and white boards for the center.

“That furniture gets used all the time,” Joost said. “I wanted to get good quality stuff for them. The cost for each room was just $1,500, thanks to the generosity of Lynn Sheets of Ken’s furniture, who provided us the furniture at cost. … This was something I was able to use my connections to call on people to help with.”

Several area residents and organizations stepped forward and pledged to help.

Those who helped sponsor the furniture include: First Federal Bank, Sherwood State Bank, Gary and Pam Welling (in honor of Scott and Sherri Welling), Kable and Erin Derrow, Exceptional Motorcar, Tri-County Roofing, Shelby and Christa Dawson, Northwestern Ohio Board of Realtors, ReMax Realty, Brent Joost, Dr. Tricia and Rich Vandehey and family, Don and Lana Gorrell family, Carpet Wholesalers, Jason and Stephanie Eckert, Sam and Chris Switzer, Jim and Lisa Weaner, William and Virginia Sterling and Bruce and Debbie Guilford.

Ken’s Furniture also is providing free delivery.

“I was able to get more than what was needed to do the rooms – $20,800,” Joost said. The extra went to purchase new lobby furniture as well.

The furniture has been ordered and will take five weeks to be delivered.

“It will be a nice Christmas gift,” Joost said.

Leininger said that the new furniture and white boards will be a great help to the facility and those it serves.

“We are eternally grateful,” Leininger said.