Photo courtesy of Hospice of Washington County

Over 500 hundred gallons of water flooded the Hospice of Washington County building this week. The not for profit organization has been fundraising for a new building and has approximately $500,000 pledged or donated so far.

Hospice of Washington County Director Katrina Altenhofen says the overall goal is $1.5 million, “It’s what is estimated for us to go ahead and be able to put a new building on our property that we currently own. And then be able to tear down the part of the building that has the basement in it that is continuing to flood.”

Altenhofen adds that this spring throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Hospice of Washington County has continued services for clients and their families in their seven-county service area, “We do not charge for any of our services. So when we have a patient that utilizes durable medical supplies, we go ahead and cover those costs. If we have a patient that wants music therapy or massage therapy, we go ahead and also cover those costs. So our patients never ever see a bill from us. We work within our nursing homes within that seven-county area, as well as we have patients that are in their own home.”

Hospice of Washington County is an independent organization that has been operating for over 30 years. Altenhofen is hopeful the new building can break ground yet this year and is accepting donations.