The 18th year for a well-known fundraising campaign will go ahead despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year's Face to Face campaign for the Hospice of Windsor Essex County has officially kicked off and runs until September 30.
Fundraising Chair John Fairley says his committee decided they needed to embark on the campaign for another year.
"If we raise $10,000, if we raise $20,000 it doesn't matter," says Fairley. "I think in honouring all the people who have worked in the Hospice and have been treated through the Hospice of Windsor Essex, um, all the amazing volunteers that have not stopped in this year of 2020. So we said yep, we're going to do it."
He says they aren't setting a fundraising goal this year.
"In the 17 years we have raised $1.1-million in this campaign that started with the help of CKLW in the very beginning. Again, just going to 10 people you know for 10 dollars."
Fairley says whatever they raise, will be used for whatever Hospice needs this year.
"Hospice hasn't stopped being hospice for the people of Windsor and Essex," he says. "So we didn't think it was right to stop this campaign because they need our support. And the hospice will use it for what they need it to. In past we've done the transportation program which right now is on a pause because of COVID-19."
The Hospice of Windsor of Essex County receives less than 50% of its operating funds from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and relies on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and fundraising events to fund the remaining percent of its daily operating needs.
— with files from AM800's Rob Hindi and Patty Handysides