SOUTHEASTERN NEWS
24th annual festival offers trees and much more
11/18/2009
Southeastern Hospice’s annual Festival of Trees gets “Brighter Every Year” as it ushers in the Christmas season.
To begin the festivities, the annual lighting ceremony for the Tree of Honor will be held Thursday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. in Southeastern Regional Medical Center’s parking lot at the corner of West 28th and North Barker streets. By making a donation to Southeastern Hospice, contributors can sponsor a light in honor or memory of loved ones.
“All are welcome and may find comfort as they remember and honor someone that has made a difference in their lives,” said Vickie Atkinson, director of Southeastern Hospice.
Festival of Trees, the annual holiday benefit for Southeastern Hospice, Southeastern Regional Medical Center’s program of care for terminally ill patients and their families, will kick off its 24th celebration on Sunday, Dec. 6. The Festival will be held in the Osterneck Auditorium at 102 N. Chestnut Street, directly across from the Robeson County Public Library.
Exquisitely-decorated theme trees will be on display Sunday, Dec. 6 from 1 until 5 p.m., and Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 7-8, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
School, nursing home and special interest groups are invited to tour the Festival at no charge by scheduling their visit in advance.
According to SRMC Marketing Director and Festival Coordinator Ann McLean, this year’s Festival has exceeded its goal, offering 28 trees for visitors to view.
“I think this speaks well of how much our community appreciates and needs the care that our hospice programs—in-home and Southeastern Hospice House—bring to every patient and their family,” said McLean. “People have a choice of their hospice provider, and we are the only not-for-profit hospice in the county. Because Southeastern Hospice offers wonderful care and attention to their patients, the Festival is able to raise funds which are directly tied back to the excellent programs they provide for this community.”
Fresh-baked goodies, crafts and gift items, such as holiday decorations and specialty foods, will be sold in the festival’s Unique Boutique. The gift shop operates only during the days of the Festival.
This year, Southeastern Hospice will unveil a new cookbook fundraising project at the Festival. The "Our Recipes & Remembrances" cookbook, which will be sold at the festival for $16, includes over 300 recipes collected from employees, volunteers and family members of Southeastern Hospice, Southeastern Hospice House and Southeastern Home Care Services.
“This high quality cookbook will be great for Christmas gifts,” said Community Liaison Kimberly Miller, who coordinated the cookbook project. The cookbook will also be available for purchase in the office of Southeastern Home Care Services following Festival of Trees.
The Festival will also include a special Memorial Tree, which features the names of Southeastern Hospice patients who have passed away since December 2008.
Tickets for Festival of Trees can be purchased at the door. All proceeds benefit Southeastern Hospice and Camp Care, a summer camp for children ages 8-16 who have lost a loved one, and donations are tax deductible.
To sponsor a light on the Tree of Honor, call 671-5655. For more information about the cookbook, call 671-5600. For more information about the overall Festival or to schedule a tour group, call 671-5577.
Sponsors for this year’s Festival include: The Antone Family; Mr. and Mrs. John Barker; FSI Office; Mr. and Mrs. Bob Caton; Lumberton Surgical Associates, PA; Southeastern Regional Medical Center Obstetrics/Labor and Delivery; Mr. and Mrs. Steven Davis; Horizon Physical Therapy, Inc; Drs. Steve Royal and George Bekic, Heart Specialists; T.R. Driscoll, Inc.; Mrs. Beverlie Floyd; Lumberton Radiological Associates; BB&T; S. Preston Douglas & Associates, LLP; Southeastern Dermatology, PA; Skinner, Lamm & Highsmith, PA; Southeastern Wound Healing Center; Lumberton Area Chamber of Commerce; Duke Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery of Lumberton; Locklear & Son Funeral Home; Barnes Paving Company, Inc.; John L. & Isabelle G. McLean Trust; Cape Fear Construction Co., Inc.; Mr. and Mrs. Sammy Cox & Mr. and Mrs. David Cox; Progress Energy; Mr. and Mrs. David Ramsaur; Dr. and Mrs. John Rozier; McDonald’s; Smith Advertising and Associates; Drs. Gail Leget and Thomas Walden Jr.; Claybourn Walters Logging Company, Inc.; Kiwanis Club of Robeson-Lumberton; Lumberton Emergency Physicians, PLLC; Mr. and Mrs. Coble D. Wilson, Jr.; Mrs. Lucy B. Simmons.
Decorators include: The Desperate Housewife; Spade and Grow Garden Club; Erica Dawn Florist; House of Flora Florist; Flowers by Billy; Town & Country Garden Club; Southeastern Hospice House employees; Petal Pushers Garden Club; Baltimore Baptist Church Women on Mission; Morning Star; Pembroke/Purvis Home Extension Club; Ruth Ann McLellan & Rose Goode; Southeastern Hospice/Camp Care Kids; Plant & Pray Garden Club; Southeastern Regional Medical Center’s Community Health Services/Diabetes Community Center; Southeastern Lifestyle Center for Fitness and Rehabilitation; Southeastern Regional Medical Center Emergency Services employees; Ethos Creative Group, LLC; First Baptist Childhood Ministry; Scotty Thompson; Southeastern Academy; J.C. Penny Company, Inc.; and Hissy Fit.
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