When I mention Hospice Caring, people immediately focus on the operative word: caring. It is appropriate that “caring” should be in the title of this 22-year-old nonprofit organization, since everyone associated with the organization epitomizes the word.
The care that the staff and volunteers provide to dying and grieving children and adults in Montgomery County is the core of the service they offer. Whether the volunteer goes into the home, hospital or nursing home to be with a patient, or drives him or her to doctor’s appointments, or is just there, care, kindness, compassion and love are always present.
Volunteers from Hospice Caring go into our schools to provide the Good Grief Club for children struggling with the loss of a parent, sibling or loved one or go into the classroom to help the children understand grief — a subject most families find difficult to understand, much less cope with during stressful times.
Our Adult Bereavement program offers a variety of groups to fit the need of each individual — death of a spouse, sibling loss, a suicide.
All our services are provided free of charge to the recipients — yes free! These volunteers, including the resourceful board of directors and trustees, work closely with our dedicated staff to make sure our community is blessed by the service each person needs. Hospice Caring depends on every one of them for their expertise and we feel honored to have them in our midst.
Our 2011 Roaring Twenties Gala will be held on Oct. 15 from 6 p.m. until midnight at the Bolger Center in Potomac, featuring our beloved J.C. Hayward as emcee, with dinner and dancing to music by Diamond Alley.
This year, the board of director, trustees and staff will honor the Mead Family Foundation for its constant support and encouragement throughout the years.
The event will have a live and silent auction. New this year will be a Local Artist’s Gallery, with beautiful pieces from Susan Avis-Murphy, Bobbi Shulman, Fran Abrams, Anne Sanderoff-Walker and others. The live auction will feature a giclee, “Collected Light,” the last of only five, by internationally recognized artist Greg Mort.
In addition, a special “Signature Addition” cookbook comprised of recipes, autographed by celebrity chefs such as Paula Deen and Patrick O’Connell of The Inn of Little Washington, will be paired with Hospice Caring’s own cookbook, “Recipes to Remember.” The cookbook, and auction items such as vacation homes, jewelry, sporting memorabilia, gift baskets and restaurant gift certificates will be available donated by generous local artists, individuals and businesses.
In keeping with the theme, guests can visit the “Speakeasy” and buy bottles of wine, whiskey or WOW — one bottle will be a “Cat Daddy Moonshine” originally brewed in copper kettles and reissued from the same distillery. They also can buy a “Mystery Bag” which may have a gift certificate, jewelry or an item valued at $100 — each $22 to celebrate Hospice Caring’s 22 years of serving the community.
Hospice Caring has tugged at my heartstrings since I participated in the training in 1987 and subsequently served as executive director for nine years. Now retired, I continue to volunteer for this incredible organization under the capable leadership of Executive Director Jeannette Mendonca, serving on the board of directors and, this year, chairing the gala.
The Annual Gala is the major fundraiser for Hospice Caring. We do so much with so little and depend on the kindness of strangers and friends to raise the funds needed to continue this important support.
Tickets are $250 per person and sponsoring opportunities are available by email to jeannettem@hospicecaring.org or by calling 301-869-0113. Rooms are available for those who wish to stay overnight.
I predict an exciting evening. Dress up or come in costume and join in the fun!
Hospice Caring Inc. can be found on the Web at www.hospicecaring.org. Details on the Annual Gala, including the artists and auction items, are available.
Lisa McKillop is a volunteer contributor to The Gazette.
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