Light Up a Life: Traditional holiday Hospice tree lighting to be held Nov. 30

    November 22, 2013
    By Peggy Kelly
    Santa Paula News

    By Peggy Kelly

    Santa Paula Times

    Hundreds of community members are already supporting the Santa Clara Valley Hospice/Home Support Group’s annual fundraiser Light Up a Life and many will be attending the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony to be held November 30.

    The 23rd Annual Light Up a Life will be held that Saturday at 5:00 p.m. at the towering tree located in front of the United Water Conservation District headquarters, located on the corner of East Main and North 8th streets. 

    The annual event memorializes lost loved ones and recognizes those still held close, a celebration of caring that has become one of the community’s most endearing holiday traditions.

    New and familiar names will join the list of thousands and thousands who have been memorialized or honored over the years under the canopy of twinkling lights, each representing someone special. 

    Lights cost only $10 each per remembrance or recognition, and the Tree Lighting Ceremony attracts many community members who enjoy music, a holiday sing-along and the reading of all names listed. 

    In case of rain the ceremony will be moved across the street inside Blanchard Community Library, which offers a perfect view of the tree. 

    There is a countdown and the lights on the tall tree are lit to shine throughout the holiday season, its twinkling lights reflected in many nearby windows, creating a meaningful swirl of colors.

    Each year members of the Optimist Club string the lights on the tree, that each evening after the lighting ceremony are reflected by the glass exterior of the building to the immediate west of UWCD.

    On Saturday there will be a special donation table to accept remembrances or recognitions-only $10 each-on the spot that will be included on the list of names read at the event. 

    Light Up A Life names are also published in the Santa Paula Times up until Christmas.

    The popularity of Light Up A Life is enduring, partly because everyone can briefly share his or her memories of lost loved ones or comment on those living that are honored during the moving-but never maudlin-ceremony.

    For more information, or to arrange your donation and twinkling lights, call the Hospice office at 525-1333. 

    All proceeds of Light Up a Life benefit the nonprofit organization offering an array of always-free services to those with life-limiting illness and their families throughout the Santa Clara River Valley. 

    Santa Clara Valley Hospice/Home Support Group, Inc. provides physical, emotional, spiritual, and social support to persons with life-limiting illnesses. The client and the family are one unit of care, with trained volunteers placed to provide respite care and other services as appropriate. Bereavement and support services are also provided for the community at large, with special emphasis on support of the elderly. No fees are charged for any Hospice Services.

    The volunteer Hospice offers friendly visits to clients, respite visits to their families and care givers; provides information and assess for referral to services; assist with medical transport to doctor visits and medical therapies; offers or arranges bereavement care, counseling for physical, psychological and spiritual needs for the client, family or caregiver; and supports discussion of vital end of life issues and concerns for client and family.

    Santa Clara Valley Hospice/Home Support Group staff and volunteers are trained and dedicated to add to the quality of life of clients and their families.





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