Published: November 05, 2009 12:37 pm      

Home Hospice to kick off Light Up a Life

Each year, Home Hospice of Cooke County embarks on its Light Up a Life campaign to raise money for the organization’s patient care services.

Home Hospice of Cooke County is the county’s only non-profit hospice organization. Home Hospice is celebrating 21 years of providing end of life care for residents who have life-limiting illnesses.

Volunteer Coordinator Kathi Kirby pointed out that Home Hospice of Cooke County serves clients without regard to insurance or financial situation.

“This means that when a family has no financial means to pay for hospice assistance we will help them with our hospice services regardless of their ability to pay. A few of the ways we accomplish this is by enlisting the help of volunteers, receiving memorials and contributions, our annual fundraisers and asking for donations. We also receive funding from the United Way,” Kirby said in a press release.

“Home Hospice of Cooke County focuses on the unique needs of patients and their families. Special attention is given to the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of persons here in our own county, when caring matters the most,” she added.

The organization plans to mark the beginning of Light Up a Life with a reception at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17 in the lobby of the First State Bank Center for Performing Arts on the North Central Texas College Campus.

The event will include entertainment and refreshments.

But the highlight of the evening is the tree lighting itself in which the family of a home hospice client turns on the tree lights and talks about their loved one.

Kirby said the event is one of two the agency holds each year.

“Light up a Life is a tradition with Home Hospice and it’s also our biggest fund raiser of the year,” she noted.

Money generated by Light Up a Life stays in Cooke County.

“The money we raise goes for patient care for people in Cooke County,” she said.

Several locations in Gainesville plan to set up Light Up a Life trees.

For a donation, individuals can place an angel on a tree in any of the participating locations.

“The angels can be in memory of, in honor of, or in celebration of a friend or loved one,” Kirby noted. “A lot of people choose to make their donation as a gift in the name of someone who already has everything they need or want.”

Angels are available at several locations in the city.

For information contact Home Hospice of Cooke County at 665-9891.

Home Hospice of Cooke County is a United Way Agency.