Farmers' annual Christmas campaign to support local hospice services is now underway, having launched on November 14. This beloved campaign offers a wonderful opportunity for the community to remember loved ones this Christmas and also raise much needed funds for their local hospice.
This year marks the 11th year of Farmers’ partnership with hospices nationwide, with nearly $8 million raised over the past decade to help keep hospice services free of charge.
Support Hospice Locally
Until Christmas Eve, there are several ways to support Arohanui Hospice through this campaign:
- Visit the Christmas Tree of Remembrance in Farmers Palmerston North, Feilding, or Levin and make a donation.
- Purchase a limited-edition hospice bauble in-store or online for $15.99, with the full amount donated to Arohanui Hospice, staying in our community.
- Stop by The Plaza in Palmerston North starting December 2, where a special stand outside Farmers will give shoppers another opportunity to participate in the campaign.
This year’s bauble design features a snowflake, symbolizing the uniqueness of every individual, just like the care Arohanui Hospice provides to each patient and their whānau.
Local Impact
Last year, Farmers customers in our region raised over $58,000, directly supporting Arohanui Hospice as they cared for over 1,300 patients and their whānau in the Manawatū, Horowhenua, Rangitīkei, and Tararua regions.
Michelle Connor, Director of the Foundation at Arohanui Hospice, is delighted to see the campaign return, highlighting its significance to the community.
“Tree of Remembrance provides a beautiful opportunity for our community to pause and honor the memory of loved ones who have died. We are fortunate to have strong partnerships with our local Farmers stores, who are deeply passionate about this campaign, and our incredible volunteers who dedicate their time to staff the stand at The Plaza. It’s their commitment, combined with the generous support of our community, that makes this campaign such a success.”
National Impact
Hospice care in New Zealand costs $200 million annually, with less than half covered by government funding. Hospices rely on raising over $94 million every year from their communities to provide free care. Farmers’ Christmas campaign plays a vital role in helping hospices across the country bridge this gap.
Jo Seagar, longtime Hospice patron, shares:
“Hospice looks after the whole person – physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. Hospices across the country are helping people live every moment. Thank you so much for supporting Hospice at Farmers this Christmas.”
Join us in making a difference this Christmas. Visit Farmers or stop by The Plaza from December 2 to support Arohanui Hospice and ensure they can continue to provide specialist palliative care to those with life limiting illnesses in our region.
About Arohanui Hospice:
Since 1991 Arohanui Hospice in Palmerston North has been providing specialist palliative care for people with a life-limiting illness in the Manawatū, Tararua, Horowhenua and Rangitīkei regions.
- Care provided by Arohanui Hospice enables patients to achieve the best possible quality of life, and provides support to their families.
- Hospice care is holistic, encompassing the physical, psychosocial, spiritual and cultural needs of the patient and their family.
- Care is free of charge and provided wherever people need it - at the hospice inpatient unit, at home or an alternative comfortable environment.
- The services provided include support of the patient in the community, inpatient care, 24-hour advice, outpatient clinics, day procedures, an activities-based day programme, social work services, family support, pastoral and bereavement support.
- The majority of patients cared for each year by Arohanui Hospice have cancer. However, we also care for people with non-malignant conditions such as motor neurone disease, respiratory disease and heart disease.
- Arohanui Hospice is only partly funded by the government and each year needs to make up the shortfall in funding. In the 2024-2025 financial year the hospice needs to raise over $4 million from the community.
For further information about the exhibition or media inquiries, please contact:
Gemma Vallender
Fundraising & Communications Operations Manager
Arohanui Hospice
06 356 6606
gemmav@arohanuihospice.org.nz
www.arohanuihospice.org.nz
