Alive, the only nonprofit hospice in Middle Tennessee, is making the holidays brighter for hospice patients and their families with the help of its volunteers and supporters. Each year, Alive organizes Thanksgiving and Christmas meals at its residences for patients and visiting loved ones, contributes to families with children who need a little extra support to cover holiday gifts and meals, offers additional grief support events to the community at no charge, and raises funds for the coming year. There are many opportunities for community members to get involved and give back.
“The holidays can be an especially challenging time for terminally ill patients and their loved ones. The financial and emotional pressure we all feel is amplified,” said Joseph K. Hampe, Alive’s COO and interim CEO. “At Alive, we do all we can to relieve that pressure so loved ones can focus on being together. It’s wonderful to see how much our volunteers and donors contribute at this time of year to help make it special for our patients and their families.”
How You Can Help Volunteer. Volunteering at Alive can be the most fulfilling way you give this holiday season and there are many opportunities to get involved. We invite you to sing or play holiday music at the inpatient units, donate gift cards to help families purchase gifts or meals, help decorate the outside of a patient’s home, donate handmade lap blankets or quilts, and more. To learn more about these and other volunteer opportunities, please contact Alive’s Director of Volunteer Services, Renee Wisby (rwisby@alivehospice.org), to get started.
Donate. Alive provides nearly 1.5 million dollars in charity care each year so no one in our community has to die alone, and the holiday season is when it raises the majority of those funds. Donate online at https://www.alivehospice.org/give/
Attend The Annie & the Big Band Christmas Show
Jazz singer and composer Annie Sellick is performing The Annie & the Big Band Christmas Show at Third and Lindsley December 18 to raise funds for Alive Hospice patients and their families. All proceeds from the show support Alive’s services including financial aid for patients and families, grief support and free education for the community on end-of-life care and planning. Tickets are $20 in advance.
Alive is the only nonprofit provider of hospice care and end-of-life services in Middle Tennessee. Its mission is to provide loving care for people with life-threatening illnesses, support to their families, and service to the community in a spirit of enriching lives. This includes in-home and in-patient hospice care, grief support, advance care planning, outreach, support to underserved communities, education about the end of life, financial assistance, a robust volunteer program, and clinician training through the Alive Institute. A pioneer in the “good death” movement, Alive established the third hospice in the nation in 1975. Today, it remains true to its roots as an innovator and leader, helping individuals live fully while approaching death.
To learn more or volunteer, visit AliveHospice.org or call 615-327-1085.
