Aroostook House of Comfort Announces Impact Gift
Generous donation will support critical hospice need in Aroostook County.
Presque Isle—The Aroostook Hospice Foundation (AHF), in continuing fundraising efforts for the Aroostook House of Comfort, is pleased to announce a major charitable contribution from a Presque Isle native, Mary Barton Akeley Smith. This generous donation made in memory of her late husband, Rodney Smith, was made possible in part by a grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. It will help support our facility or “house” where patients receive hospice services and continue its impact by ensuring that the Aroostook House of Comfort’s model of care is available for years to come.
Mrs. Smith, an avid supporter of Presque Isle, has funded such projects as the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library, the Rodney Smith Wellness Center at Northern Maine Community College, and the Dr. Robert Vinton Akeley endowed Chair of Agricultural Science and Agribusiness with a new on-campus greenhouse at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Her generous gift to the Aroostook House of Comfort will support a critical healthcare need in our community and help to better the lives of Aroostook County residents.
“Contributions from donors like Mrs. Smith will help sustain the house as we go forward into the future,” said Rick Duncan, Board Chairman of the Aroostook Hospice Foundation (AHF). “This generous gift will also help us in our mission to give patients the comfort and attention they deserve in a peaceful, home-like setting.”
As we know, terminal illness does not discriminate by age, gender, or socioeconomic status. The Aroostook House of Comfort is the only stand-alone facility north of Auburn to provide inpatient hospice and respite care services to individuals facing a life-limiting illness. Our hospice house offers a much-needed resource to a community that is spread over 6,828 square miles, making travel sometimes lengthy and expensive. Our inpatient services allow for 24-hour care by a local experienced Medicare-certified hospice care agency relieving the emotional and physical stress on families and caregivers. Mrs. Smith’s support of the Aroostook House of Comfort is an investment in our commitment to making an impact on the lives of our patients and their families.
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About the Aroostook House of Comfort We are committed to helping individuals and families on their journey through hospice and end-of-life care. The Aroostook House of Comfort provides the facility or “house” for patients to receive hospice care services. The medical care is administered by a local Medicare-certified hospice care agency team made up of several professionals focused on providing spiritual, social, emotional, and medical support. Our donors and volunteers have made it possible to build a 9,800 square foot state-of-the-art facility where every detail has been carefully considered to accommodate our patients and their families.
Contact Rick Duncan, Chairman, Aroostook Hospice Foundation
Phone: (207) 769-2402
