Ronald McDonald grant to help hospice programs for youth

BIG CHECK- Sandy Nirenberg, executive director of the Camarillo Hospice, accepts a check from June and Clay Paschen., Camarillo residents and owners of the local McDonald's restaurant.

Of the 6,000 patients and clients served annually by Camarillo Hospice, almost 18 percent are children and young adults, newborns to 29 years old.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities recently awarded Camarillo Hospice a $5,000 grant in support of its work with this particularly vulnerable population.

Sandy Nirenberg, executive director of the Camarillo Hospice, accepted the check from local McDonald's restaurant owners June and Clay Paschen.

Nirenberg said that "with this generous grant, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California is helping to make a very large impact on the youth of our community."

The grant will help Camarillo Hospice increase its Good Grief Club (for ages 5 through 12).

The money willpay for therapy supplies for art, play and music, expand outreach to teenagers through the area high schools and foster community understanding of the dying and grieving processes.

Carole Wadsworth, Director of Counseling Services at Camarillo Hospice said, "Children are often the forgotten grievers within a family.

"Grief, for children as well as adults, is a natural reaction to the death of a loved one," Wadsworth said.

Founded in 1978, Camarillo Hospice is a volunteer hospice and grief support center dedicated to providing care, comfort and support to those facing a life-threatening illness (acute or chronic) and/or dealing with grief.

All services and programs are free of charge. For more information, call (805) 389-6870.