Halifax Health - Hospice of Volusia/Flagler

Nothing can be more heartbreaking than watching a loved one near the end of their life. The wonderful and brave people of hospice are often called upon to not only help those at the end of life, but also their grieving families through the grief process. Hospice of Volusia/Flagler has taken the healing process one step further by combining the celebration of life with a vehicle to help others in need – The Tree of Remembrance.

In 1989, The Tree of Remembrance project was created to help loved ones celebrate those they have lost by creating a Christmas memorial. People can buy an ornament and in exchange they receive a memory tag they can fill out with a special message or memory of their loved one. The tags are then placed on one of four large Christmas trees that are on display in a local mall through the month of December.

Proceeds from the sale of the ornaments go to the Hospice Memorial Fund – providing various assistance to patients who either cannot afford care, or do not qualify for insurance coverage of their care. The money has also been used to bring a loved one in from far away to see the patient, or for basic human needs of the patient in their home – food, electricity, etc.

The program is marketed through a bi-annual newsletter, which goes to previous patient’s family members and donors. The ornament is also marketed through their website, and with some local media attention during the month of December.

The program is both a financial and emotional success. The program has raised over $800,000 in the past 19 years and it is estimated that over 5,000 patients and families have benefitted from the funds raised through the annual Tree of Remembrance project.

Johnnie Carrow-Nelson, Events Specialist for Halifax Health – Hospice of Volusia/Flagler finds the rewards are very far reaching. “The most rewarding part of this program is the people you meet, not only the ones who are buying an ornament and making a donation, but the volunteers who help sell ornaments and collect money. These selfless people, who volunteer for our organization, all have their own ‘stories’. It is a delight to interact with these people and learn about these stories and the many lives that are touched by this true season of giving.”

For more information on Halifax Health – Hospice of Volusia/Flagler or their Tree of Remembrance program, please visit their website at http://www.hovf.org.