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Funding cutbacks hit Penticton Bereavement Centre

As of March 16, the centre has had to cut back their adult programs because of lack funding.
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In March the Penticton Bereavement Centre had to stop service for counselling

For the last four years, people grieving the death of a loved one have been able to turn to the Bereavement Resource Centre in Penticton for counselling, guidance and support.

But as of March 16, the centre has had to cut back their adult programs because of lack funding.

“Our child and youth family program is continuing to operate,” said Marla Ferg, executive director of the Penticton and District Hospice Society. She adds that along with children’s programs, they will be continuing with referral resources and their lending library. “The only program that has been shut down at this time is the adult program.”

Though the Bereavement Centre helped 88 adult clients last year, cutting back was necessary, according to Ferg, because of a lack of sustainable funding.

“We operate solely on donations for the counselling program, and the board felt at this time we needed to look at our financial situation and get some things in order before we continue with the programs,” she said.

Chuck Beckerleg knows grief all too well. He came to the Bereavement Centre after his wife committed suicide, themselves grieving over the death of their 30-year-old grandson.

“We were grief stricken,” said Beckerleg.

It was the same day they had located the Bereavement Centre, he said, that she chose to end her life.

Beckerleg, grieving two deaths, went on to make use of the services at the centre. But as he worked through his own grief, he said, he saw how badly others in the sessions needed the support.

“I’ve seen some of the young mothers whose husbands have committed suicide and how they are struggling,” said Beckerleg.

Seeing others struggling with their losses, desperately in need of counselling and support, inspired him to publicize the loss of the programs and encourage others to come forward with financial support.

One of his ideas is that the commercial sector could step in.

“I was hoping there might be a company or two that would stand up and say we will gladly take the bereavement centre on as one of our things to support,” said Beckerleg, explaining that by getting the word out about the loss of programming, he hoped to stir other people up to help fund the centre.

“We are told by the participants that it can make a huge difference for them,” said Ferg. “Anytime someone is grieving, the support of others and especially gaining knowledge about what is grief, understanding what the process and the journey is, is particularly important for people.

“Group programs are definitely important for people that are struggling for grief.”

Ferg said the society is working to find funding so the adult programs can be reinstated in some form, though she has no prediction for how long it will be.

“The intention is to first do what we need to do to secure sustainable funding and reinstate the program in some form in the future,” said Ferg, who came on as executive director last August, with one of her mandates being to develop a sustainable funding program.

“A lot of people don’t realize the Hospice Society is a charitable organization and we do operate on donations,” said Ferg. “One of our key priorities is maintaining our support of (Moog and Friends) Hospice House. That is a significant amount of funding that goes to support activities and programs at Hospice House.”