Samira K. Beckwith, center, uses a large pair of scissors to cut the ribbons officially opening the Lehigh Hope Healthcare Center. At left is Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann, and at right is Lehigh Chamber of Commerce CEO Joe Whalen. Several others stretched both sides also with scissors to cut the ribbons. More photos can be viewed at cu.lehighacrescitizen.com. Photo by MEL TOADVINE

The long awaited Hope Healthcare Center opened last week with two open houses, one for friends and staffers of Hope Hospice from Lee County and the other, the following night, for the local people of Lehigh. The dates were March 30 and 31.

CEO Samira Beckwith said it was hard to belive that 10 months ago, they gathered at the spot with shovels in hand to break the ground for the new Hope Hospice House located at 1201 Wings Way.

Transportation workers in Lee County worked hard to build and resurface an existing street off of Beth Stacey Blvd. that leads to the structure. Palms, shrubs and flowers were planted on the new street.

So many people attended both ceremonies that a shuttle bus owned by Hope Hospice was used to bring them to the building for a brief ceremony and a tour of the interior before the facility opens in mid April.

Beckwith thanked those who had given financial gifts but said more is needed to help pay off the cost of construction.

Myra Kessler, left, stands with Ruth Ann Anglickis during the open house at the Hope House in Lehigh last week. Both worked to collect funding for the new complex along with Karen Makowski. Photo by MEL TOADVINE

“We have succeeded in bringing Hope close to home for thousands of residents of eastern Lee, Glades and Hendry counties,” she said.

“The construction is now complete at the Hope HealthCare Services Center in Lehigh Acres, the only health care center of its kind in the state of Florida.”

Several hundred people attended the ceremonies held on two nights last week. The facility is located now down the street from Lehigh Community Services which carries an address of 9 Beth Stacey Blvd.

Beckwith said the opening of the Center represents a major landmark for Hope in enhancing the care we offer to so many people in need.

“This is a gift of time for everyone in the area – no more long hours driving to other hospice houses and care facilities for services of to visit loved ones,” she said.

Karen Makowski is shown with Lehigh’s new honorary Mayor Oscar Gamble. Makowski was one of the women who help raise money for the new Hope Hospice complex in Lehigh. Go to cu.lehighacrescitizen.com to see more photos. Photo by MEL TOADVINE

The new Center in Lehigh will serve eastern Lee County including Buckingham, Alva, Gateway, Lehigh and Pelican Preserve, as well as Hendry and Glades counties.

In a fact sheet passed out by Hope officials, the Center is 45,000 square foot inside and has 24 individual care suites for Hospice patients. There are respite areas for loved ones of the patients and an Adult Day Health Center, offering Hope Select Care, a program of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE) where approximately 50 frail and elderly clients will receive care and support each day.

There are bereavement counseling offices for families and offices for home care teams and volunteers who will serve hundreds of people throughout the area.

In addition, Beckwith said the Center will also serve as a hurricane shelter for hospice patients living at home who cannot be placed in public shelters.

Several people participated in the official ribbon cutting ceremony opening the facility. Cutting the ribbon with the king-sized scissors was Beckwith with Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann and Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce Director Joe Whalen, taking part in the ceremony.

Samira K. Beckwith, CEO of the new Hope House in Lehigh addresses the hundreds who turned out for the open house the first night of ceremonies last week. Photo by MEL TOADVINE

The five acres of land that the Center is situation on was given by the Community Health Association.

Lehigh fund-raisers named at the beginning of the drive to build the complex included Ruth Ann Anglickis, Karen Makowski and Myra Kessler. All were present for the ceremonies.

Samira K. Beckwith is shown with Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann who represents the Lehigh area on the County Commission. Go to cu.lehighacrescitizen.com to see more photos. Photo by MEL TOADVINE