Tree of Lights Fundraiser

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.] Source:  Hospice of East Alabama

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.] Source:  Hospice of the Piedmont