Gainesville —
Thursday’s special ceremony at North Central Texas College launched the annual “Light Up a Life” campaign, coordinated by officials of Home Hospice of Cooke, Grayson, Fannin and northern Denton counties.
The ceremony, hosted by Home Hospice Executive Director Sherry Little, was highlighted by a Christmas tree lighting since the fall campaign is conducted with a “holiday tree” theme. During the campaign, hospice staff, auxiliary members and other volunteers place their own holiday trees decorated with paper angels at several local businesses. Donors make contributions in the name of a loved one and add the name to an angel on one of the trees.
As a result, “Light up a Life” represents a major fundraiser for the hospice agency — which provides care for terminally ill patients through several counties.
“In sharing our experience and expertise with the dying and those who love and care for them, it’s our mission to provide the best possible experience during this significant time of life, focusing on improving the quality of life when nothing can be done to extend the quantity,” Little said Thursday.
While many of the hospice program’s patients already have insurance coverage, this hospice agency also assists clients who cannot afford to pay for medical care. Hospice care includes equipment, medications and emotional support both for clients and their families, and in 2011, more than $285,000 was spent.
And hospice representative Kathi Kirby added Friday that agency officials have chosen to do something new for the annual “LUAL” fundraiser. Officials have implemented a program called the “Home Hospice of Cooke County Traveling Tree.” Locally placed trees will be manned by volunteers who will accept donations from the public.
Trees are scheduled to be located at American Bank on Mondays, Landmark Bank on Tuesdays, NASCOGA Federal Credit Union on Wednesdays, Muenster State Bank in Gainesville on Thursdays, First State Bank on California on Fridays, Zales Jewelry at Gainesville Outlet Shops on Saturdays and Los Mariachi's Mexican restaurant on Sundays. And from Nov. 24 through Dec. 14, representatives of Gehrig's Hardware in Muenster will accept donations.
Contributions may also be mailed to P. O. Box 1352, Gainesville, TX 76241. All money raised for Light up a Life goes for patient care in Cooke County — and the hospice program is also a longstanding Cooke County United Way agency.
For information about “Light up a Life,” or any of the related home hospice programs, call 665-9891.
Local News
Related Photos
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Home hospice aide Kathy Sanders, center, and Home Hospice of Cooke County Executive Director Sherry Little, right, lit the symbolic Christmas tree during a special ceremony Thursday as part of the annual “Light Up a Life” campaign. During the campaign, hospice staff, auxiliary members and other volunteers place their own holiday trees decorated with paper angels at several local businesses. Donors make contributions in the name of a loved one and add the name to an angel on one of the trees. Staff photo by Greg Russell
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Light up a Life for home hospice
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