Archives > McKinney Courier-Gazette > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Holiday program helps families honor lost loved ones
Submitted Photo - Volunteer coordinator Connie Williams shows off the 'Light Up a Life' tree at the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Collin County office in McKinney. Residents can purchase ornaments and paper doves, engraved with names of their lost loved ones, and the money helps VNA provide quality hospice care.
By Chris Beattie, cbeattie@acnpapers.com
The holidays aren't so cheerful for those who've recently lost reasons for their cheer. A season of love just isn't the same without loved ones who used to always be there.
But for every dark time, there is light, and few know that better than beneficiaries of the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA). Lights of remembrance and generosity are again shining in the area through the VNA of Collin County's eighth annual "Light Up a Life" program.
Names of lost loved ones -- beneficiaries or not -- are engraved on crystal ornaments and paper doves that decorate Christmas trees adorning VNA offices throughout North Texas. Started in 1934 by volunteer nurses and community leaders, the VNA provides home health care to families with nowhere to turn and no way to pay.
Such in-home care may be the brightest of lights for patients and their families, plagued by an inevitable outcome, and the VNA makes sure the brightness lasts -- both for them and others. The special decorations honor lost loved ones, and at $20 a piece, they also serve as donations that help VNA continue hospice care in its service areas.
"This program helps pay for the whole hospice team," said Connie Williams, volunteer coordinator for VNA of Collin County. "It allows them to go out and help people have a quality end to their lives."
The VNA of Collin County office, located at 2414 W. University Drive in McKinney, joins branches in Dallas, Fort Worth, Kaufman and Denton to participate in the seasonal campaign.
"Light Up a Life" started 27 years ago at the Denton office, the neighboring branches slowly but surely following suit. The VNA offices together have raised more than $800,000 for hospice care through the annual program.
Every autumn, the branches send out invitations to residents with late family members who were under VNA care within the last few years. Tree honorees are typically those such family members, but sometimes they're simply loved ones without a VNA connection, whom people want to remember in a special way, Williams said.
One Kaufman woman, who had lost a family member under VNA care, honored her loved one with an ornament, and then helped VNA workers light up the completed tree.
The VNA of Collin County office, which began distributing invitations Sept. 1, has already collected about $1,500 in donations. Williams said the office has garnered as much as $4,000 with the program in previous years.
A "Light Up a Life" tree is on display between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. every weekday through Dec. 30 at the VNA of Collin County office. Donations will help pay for VNA nurses, chaplains, social workers and other staff members necessary for quality hospice care.
And they'll likely provide some glistening cheer for all who see the tree.
"Some of our funding from United Way has been cut back in recent years, so any little bit helps," Williams said. "It's a great way to honor lost loved ones and help others still living."
Donations to "Light Up a Life" can be made by contacting Williams at williamsc@vnatexas.org, or by calling VNA of Collin County at 972-562-0140.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
