Hope Fund provides monetary relief in times of need
Employees care for each other through Hope Fund contributions
Wednesday April 16, 2008 -- Jason Thompson
When an employee at any one of OMNI’s long-term care homes is facing a personal crisis, the Hope Fund ensures money is the least of their concerns.

Established in 2000, the Hope Fund is a program that pools financial resources in case of an emergency. Employees are asked to donate 25 cents from each paycheque to contribute to the fund, which OMNI’s corporate office will match.

Linda Burr, administrator at Frost Manor in Lindsay, says a number of employees at Frost Manor have been able to rely on the fund to help them in their time of need.

“I don’t think anybody has ever been turned down. I think it’s a wonderful thing,” she says.

For instance, a staff member at the home was able to access money through the Hope Fund for travel expenses because she had to miss time from work to travel to Toronto for her daughter’s surgery.

Another example at Frost Manor is a part-time employee who required an emergency appendectomy. The Hope Fund provided support while she was unable to work.

“It’s the one time that the staff can help their co-workers,” Burr says. “The beauty of it is that because it is such a small amount out of your paycheque . . . we all feel we’re contributing to everyone in the OMNI family.”

At West Lake Terrace in Picton, administrator and director of care Mary Lynn Lester says the Hope Fund is a critical resource for many employees.

Lester tells the story of a personal support worker at West lake Terrace who is sometimes required to provide care for her son with cystic fibrosis when caregivers aren’t available. Because this requires her to miss work from time to time, through no fault of her own, the Hope Fund ensures she’s able to make ends meet.

“This girl is literally working 24-7. I think she’s quite a super person and that’s where the Hope Fund really supports the staff,” Lester says. “To be able to say, ‘you don’t have to worry about money in this terrible time of emotional distress,’ I think that’s a real plus.”

Any employee in need of financial assistance through the Hope Fund can fill out an application which is reviewed by a committee of representatives from OMNI homes.

Stories are often generated from the feedback we receive. To share your thoughts, phone (800) 294-0051, ext. 25 or e-mail jason(at)axiomnews.ca.