letter to the editor

St. Andrews Free Bed Fund

Mon, 09/02/2019 - 3:00pm

Dear Editor:

For over 80 years, we have helped worthy local residents pay their bills at St. Andrews Hospital. More recently, we have also been able to help local patients of other non-profit healthcare providers, like the new Boothbay Region Health Center.

Many local people get overwhelmed by the rising cost of healthcare because of circumstances beyond their control, like an injury or sudden illness. Even those fortunate enough to afford health insurance typically have extremely high deductibles. We do whatever we can to assist them, but we need your donation.

Now, it is even more important as we’ve been advised by our accountant that if our fundraising isn’t sufficient this year, then we may risk losing our special tax designation and that may impede our ability to help people going forward.

We are an independent group run locally for the benefit of local people. As the Free Bed Fund is a 501 (c) (3) organization, your gift to us may be tax deductible. But please consult your own tax advisor on your specific situation, especially in light of recent tax law changes.

Checks can be mailed to: St. Andrews Free Bed Fund, 6 Campbell St., Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.

If you instead wish to donate high appreciated securities and/or some of your IRA Required Minimum Distribution, please call 633-2052 for assistance.

Thank you for helping us assist so many deserving people in our region. Board members include treasurer Sarah Giles, Tom Berry, Clayton Pottle, Patrice Carter, Laura Francis and Karen Nickerson.

Thomas I. Perkins

President

St. Andrews Free Bed Fund