Clarehouse Receives Donation From Hospice

By Jennifer Loren, News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The credit crunch has forced a nationwide hospice to close its doors and their foundation is donating all that's left to a Tulsa non-profit.

Kelly Scott is the director of Clarehouse in Tulsa. It's a non-profit organization that provides 24 hour care and comfort for patients and their families in their final days of life.

"This is a home of hospitality. We want to make people feel at home as much as possible and use this like they would their own home," said Scott.

Their current location is a rented eight bedroom apartment complex they've converted into one shared space.

"This is our volunteer area. We don't have a lot of space. So we multitask in all of our areas," said Scott.

But that will soon change as Clarehouse is building their own facility on South Mingo.

For years now, Clarehouse has been in the midst of a capital campaign to raise millions of dollars so they can move in.

Now, a $100,000 donation has moved them within reach of their goal. But it comes at the expense of the Trinity Hospice Foundation, which is closing up shop due to the economy.

"It is really bittersweet. I mean it's a wonderful gift for us and we will use that money very wisely in the care of patients. But it is a sad thing for them to be closing their doors and stopping their service," said Scott.

Holbrook Lawson will lose her job with Trinity, but she says she's happy to see their work move ahead in another great organization.

"We have a like mission and they're a strong organization. They provide beautiful care for people. They have similar mission and we know that the money that we've received will be in good hands with them," said Lawson.

Clarehouse is looking forward to a grand opening celebration some time next summer.