Considering giving to Vashon Community Care? Now’s the time.

When our vulnerable VCC residents run out of their own money and resources, Medicaid pays only 49 percent of the cost of care in assisted living and 70 percent in skilled nursing. This gap won’t go away; our government isn’t considering increasing benefit payments.

Representing the Vashon community, we promised our support and promised that we would raise money to pay the difference so the residents would not be sent to the street.

As you can see by the thermometer posted at Bank Road and Vashon Highway, we have a huge shortfall. We need almost $250,000. Large donations are welcome.

Obviously not everyone has that ability. Please, join me and be “one of the 500,” at least another 420 monthly sustaining contributors for a strong financial foundation for the residents at Vashon Community Care.

Eighty kind and generous monthly contributors are filling not yet enough of the gap between what insurance and government benefits pay and the actual cost of care for our dear residents.

The great team at VCC, including volunteers, continues to find ways to reduce costs. They’ve managed to rearrange expenses, including refinancing the mortgage so that of the $1 million shortfall in income from services provided, we need only raise $500,000 for 2015. It will be at least the same in future years, thus the need for sustaining donors.

We welcome you and thank you in advance. Together, with major donations, sustaining donors, grants and a variety of fundraising events throughout the year, we will reach our goal, keeping our Vashon family together at home on Vashon.

— Valerie Howe VCC President