Country Friends give generously to Hospice camp

COAST CITIES — Hospice of the North Coast has been given a generous donation of $5,700 from Rancho Santa Fe-based The Country Friends, a 56-year-old charity whose mission and passion are to help the less fortunate.
The contribution is specifically earmarked to support HNC’s Camp H.O.P.E., an annual summer Healing Outdoor Play Experience that provides therapeutic activities to grieving children and their families in a serene and fun environment. In addition to a low registration fee, HNC offers scholarships to families unable to pay.
According to HNC Executive Director Nerice Kaufman, the organization has benefited over the years from previous The Country Friends donations.
“We are honored to be one of a select group of 18 beneficiaries of The Country Friends’ largesse this year,” she said. “The donation enables us to cover the costs of the 2010 Camp H.O.P.E. and begin planning for the 2011 event. As a nonprofit community hospice, HNC goes far beyond the provision of basic bereavement services, which are unfunded. Over the years, demands for these services have increased dramatically, especially in the area of education and support for children and teens. Without the generosity of donors, we would not be able to provide innovative services such as Camp H.O.P.E, fund our counseling center or train the hundreds of interns who have progressed to professional mental health careers grounded in grief and loss.”
The Country Friends was formed in 1954 to fulfill a stated need to “help others to help themselves.” To date, through multifaceted efforts and events, it has raised more than $12 million to support human care agencies throughout San Diego County. More information on the group can be found at www.TheCountryFriends.org.
The nonprofit Hospice of the North Coast was established in 1980 to fill the need for comprehensive, compassionate hospice care in North County.