The Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth launched its fourth annual Lights of Love holiday fundraiser campaign this week, giving locals the opportunity to dedicate a light of love in honor or in memory of a loved one in exchange for a donation to the hospice.
Stratford-area residents have the opportunity to light up the Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth by dedicating “Lights of Love” in honor or in memory of a special person in their life through the hospice’s fourth annual holiday fundraising campaign.
Launched earlier this week, the hospice’s Lights of Love campaign offers locals the chance to share the name of a loved one, along with a personalized message, on the Lights of Love recognition webpage in exchange for a donation of their choosing.
“It can be to somebody they’ve lost. It doesn’t have to be someone who stayed at the hospice. It could be a loved one someone lost 30 years ago. … So you can dedicate a light to someone that you’ve lost or it’s another way to make a donation in honor of somebody still with us. Maybe there’s somebody special and they don’t need another pair of socks or whatever for Christmas, so you can make your donation to the hospice (in their name) and then include a message,” said hospice director of fund development Lucie Stuart.
All those who are honored through a light-of-love dedication before Dec. 7 will also be acknowledged at the campaign’s lighting ceremony at 7 pm that evening in the pavilion across from the hospice parking lot, marking the first time the hospice has hosted an in-person event as part of this campaign.
“The lighting ceremony is something that we’re doing new this year,” Stuart said. “We have done a small ceremony that we livestreamed through Facebook, but this year we thought we’d try and do an in-person event and have everybody gather at the pavilion. We’ll do some readings, some acknowledgments from our sponsors … and then have everybody get their tea lights and walk toward the front of the building.
“We’ll take moment to pause and remember and then do the countdown for the (hospice holiday) lights going on. …It’s about love. it’s about remembrance. It’s about shining a light during a dark time of year as the days get shorter.”
The event will include live music and free hot chocolate. Organizers are asking those who attend to dress for the weather.
The Lights of Love campaign is one of several annual fundraisers hosted by the hospice, like the Hike for Hospice and Handbags for Hospice events, that raise money in support of yearly operational costs.
“We get ministry funding that covers approximately 50 per cent of what it costs to run a hospice. The other 50 per cent, or about $900,000 or so, we have to fundraise locally. So the Lights of Love campaign is just another way to raise money to go towards those operating costs to keep the lights on, the heating going and to keep food in the kitchen for residents, their families and the visitors who come in. … It’s not so much about the donation amount for this event as it is a chance for people to acknowledge or remember their loved ones,” Stuart said.
Over the past three holiday seasons, Stuart said the Lights of Love campaign has brought in roughly $120,000 – or about $40,000 annually. It’s a goal she hopes the hospice will reach again through this year’s fundraiser.
The hospice will continue accepting donations and dedications as part of the holiday campaign until Dec. 31. For more information and to donate, visit www.hospicewishlist.com.