At Christmas families in the community pay $10 for
a light that represents their lost loved one. The staff and families
gather as a community outside and sing hymns, and the tree is lit -
all
the lights come on at once and it is beautiful. The lights on the
Christmas tree are white. The community does this outside of the
office at night. The tree stays lit until the New Year. Luminaries
line the parking lot where people are sitting or standing. Families
and staff find this very meaningful. People gather afterwards in the
office or a church for cider and cookies. [This idea can easily be
adapted by non-Hospice organizations to fit their mission.]
Alternative: Each year as the Christmas holidays approach, our
hospice sells lace angel ornaments which people can buy in memory of
or in honor of anyone they choose. Those ornaments are then placed in
Christmas trees at our office until a few days before Christmas. We
then have an open house in which people can come and take their angels
off the trees. It is a good time of sharing with the community as they
gather together during the Open House. Refreshments are served. [This idea can easily be
adapted by non-Hospice organizations to fit their mission.]
Sources: Hospice of East Alabama
& Hospice of the Piedmont
We have included a number of do-it-yourself fundraising ideas in this
section such as a Tree of Lights or Angel
Tree that offer a break from
traditional product sales. They were developed by groups just like
yours in an attempt have a little fun with their fundraiser. Some of
them are tried and true while others show a lot of creativity ... and
even wackiness in some cases. All of them are obviously not
appropriate for every group, but sometimes, with only a little
modification, your might find some fund raising ideas that are perfect
for your group. If you have an idea for a do-it-yourself fund raiser you
are willing to share with others, please send it to us via email at .
Include anything
and everything you would want to know if you were hearing the idea for
the first time.
.
Include anything
and everything you would want to know if you were hearing the idea for
the first time.