A little helping hand goes a long way

Silverchain Senior Social Worker Ellie Branch knows the important difference Silver Hand can make to our clients facing financial hardship.

Ellie recently sought funding from Silverchain Foundation’s last-resort, urgent financial relief grants to help a client and their family who were grappling with dire financial circumstances when the family’s main income earner was in their last months of life.

“My palliative care client’s family were only buying the bare minimum of food and only the cheapest options available,” Ellie said.

“I knew that they needed a helping hand and that I would be able to get help from Silverchain Foundation’s Silver Hand program.

“When people near the end of their life, often their appetite is diminished, and they just don’t feel like eating, so food selection is important,” Ellie said.

“I applied for some short-term financial support for the family through Silver Hand.

“When you’re facing such challenging times, often it’s not the practical difference Silver Hand makes that really stands out, it’s the emotional impact of this small gift.

“Often my clients’ families are going through a lot of stress. When we’re able to help alleviate one area of stress, like the stress of putting food on the table, it gives the whole family some breathing space to address what’s going on emotionally. It may mean they can just enjoy time together or even just acknowledge how hard it has been. I think it’s this emotional benefit that makes the biggest difference,” Ellie said.

Silver Hand is supported by the generosity of our donors to Silverchain Foundation.

If you are in a position to donate visit the Silverchain Foundation website for more information.