It's difficult to lose a loved one, so we have to do our best to keep them alive in memory.
The Palliative Care Committee, which serves the communities of Arcola, Carlyle, Kisbey and Manor, wants to help people remember their loved ones this holiday season by decorating Memory Trees at Arcola Health Centre and Moose Mountain Lodge with Memory Angels.
"You can remember your loved ones by purchasing an angel in their memory," explained Lynn Brady, a member of the Palliative Care Committee. "Donations and your loved ones' names can be left at Arcola Health Centre, Moose Mountain Lodge or Carlyle Pharmasave."
A $5 donation to the Palliative Care Committee purchases a memory angel. There will be receipts issued for any donations in excess of $10.
The Palliative Care Committee began holding this fundraiser 10 years ago as a way to remember our loved ones during the holiday season while raising money to provide and supply equipment to people who face serious health issues.
During its first year of holding this particular fundraiser, the committee was raising funds to furnish a family room located in Arcola Health Centre. The family room was a place where families of people who were staying in the hospital could gather in times of need.
Since that time, the committee has continued to help meet the needs of people at home, in the hospital and in long term care.
"We have purchased several electric beds, a blanket warmer, [and] comfort mattresses," said Brady. "[We] provide continued portable phone access in our facilities."
One of the newest projects the Palliative Care Committee is supporting right now is to furnish a family room at Moose Mountain Lodge - just as it did with the family room in Arcola.
"We are working on a family room at Moose Mountain Lodge with homey furnishings to enable families to be together in times of need," said Brady. "We look for your ideas and financial support."
The goal is to be well on the way to having the room furnished by spring so families can beging using it as soon as possible. A room has already been set aside at the lodge and has been painted. The committee hopes to furnish it in a similar way to the one in Arcola, which features a love seat with a double kick-out (recliner) and relining chair, television, fridge, microwave and sink.
When people make a donation for their Memory Angel, they can put the name of their loved one upon the angel and choose where they would like to have it placed - Arcola or Carlyle. The trees are already up at both locations.
The Palliative Care Committee is a wonderful organization to give to locally as it "channels local money for local needs."
Memory Angels can be purchased right up until Christmas.
