Brass Horse event raises money for Hospice

A food presentation and entertainment by a Johnny Cash tribute band at the Brass Horse Banquet Hall helped to raise money for Akwesasne’s Hospice volunteers.

With an office at the St. Regis Mohawk Senior’s Center - Tsi Tetewatatkens, the Hospice of the North Country has a group of 12 volunteers who serve Akwesasne patients.

Hospice is a form of care that patients receive at the end of their life. It includes home visits from nurses who can provide basic medical attention, pain relief and guidance, while also providing spiritual and mental support for the patient and his or her family. Hospice of the North Country’s mission is “to help people of the North Country die in spiritual, mental, and physical comfort. We support and encourage people and their families to determine their end-of-life care.”

Each of the nine volunteers from Akwesasne - along with Hospice volunteers everywhere - are not paid for their duties but can provide a priceless service.

Dave Mainville, co-owner of the Brass Horse, organized the event. Twin Leaf and Truckstop #9 sponsored the event with the Brass Horse and tickets were sold in the community.

The event had a multi-cultural food aspect to it. Different tables were set up throughout the building offering foods from different cultures and nations. Along with the Native American table (fried bread), there were tables featuring foods from Switzerland (chocolate and cheese fondue), Italy (pasta), Texas (barbecue sandwiches), Mexico (tacos) and China. Two Asian employees from the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino - one of whom owns the China Doll Restaurant in Massena - donated their time and food from China Doll. They also brought items like fans for sale which raised additional funds for the Hospice volunteers.

The musicians performed for nearly four hours while guests could eat and drink as much as they wished.

“It was excellent, everything was very nice,” said Mike Gray.

Mary Grow, one of Akwesasne’s Hospice volunteers, said the money raised will help cover basic expenses like fuel, and material for their resource library. The volunteers accepted checks totaling $2500 at Thursday evening’s event.

One guest at the event, Courtney Armstrong, was celebrating his birthday and donated $200 to the volunteers in memory of his grandfather, Paul Tatlock.

Other money was raised through a purse auction and a Chinese statue that guests paid a dollar to make a wish on. All donations are appreciated by each volunteer and guests in attendance wanted the volunteers to know that they are appreciated also.

“It’s really through volunteers that our program actually exists,” said Grow. “We have some really sincere volunteers.”