By Rhys Baker
Since 1990, Meadowlark Hospice Staff and Volunteers have hosted Tree of Light Ceremonies in communities within their service area. This service area includes the counties of Clay, Washington, Republic, Cloud, Marshall, and Western Riley. This year, Meadowlark Hospice has decided to make changes to better personalize their remembrance. Director Amy Burr explains the changes, “Instead of having in-person events, we decided we wanted to be able to touch the families of all of the patients that we had served that passed between November 1, 2023 to October 31, 2024. Instead of having a ceremony where just a few people attend to receive an ornament, we created personalized ornaments for all the families and are hand-delivering or mailing those out to the family members.
In addition to discontinuing the Tree of Light Ceremony, Meadowlark Hospice has started a new program. Burr says, “We started a new Grateful Family Program where families can donate money in honor of their loved ones to the organization or even if they want to give back to the organization by sharing a unique story of the hospice care they received or to give compliments to a hospice care provider that touched their lives during the care for their loved one.”
In addition, The Grateful Family Program aims to bring families closer while encouraging expressions of gratitude and the creation of lasting memories. Hospice care focuses on providing comfort and support to patients during their final stages of life. However, the journey is equally significant for the families and friends accompanying their loved ones through the process. In turn, Meadowlark Hospice hopes to dispel the notion that hospice is a last resort or a door that encourages death rather than a compassionate choice that enhances the quality of life. Their goal is to change the narrative by sharing real stories and testimonials from families who have experienced the profound benefits of hospice care.
Monetary donations will be acknowledged in their quarterly newsletter. During the holiday season, names of those being remembered with donations will also be written on an angel to place on Meadowlark Hospice’s angel tree in the Clay Center Courthouse Square.
