It’s almost time for high tea again.
Hospice Huntsville’s Purple Tea Party is this Saturday, April 7, at Huntsville Place Mall. The party’s silent auction begins tomorrow, April 4.
Whether or not you’re a fan of tea, tiny sandwiches and sweet treats, the Purple Tea Party is a great way to support Hospice Huntsville’s free services. It’s part of Hike for Hospice, one of Hospice Huntsville’s annual signature fundraisers. The organization must raise half of its operating costs annually—$534,000—and it relies on fundraisers and donations. The North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network provides the other half of Hospice’s funding.
Pauline Diamond, a Purple Tea Party attendee since the annual event began five years ago, encourages everyone to give it a try.
“It’s a fun thing to do,” says Diamond, adding that the Hospice services that the tea party supports are essential for our community. Hospice volunteers helped her and her husband, Ed, at home and he was later a resident at the Algonquin Grace Hospice before his death from cancer in 2016.
Diamond knew people who had been in Hospice but it wasn’t until Ed lived there in his final few weeks that she learned first-hand what Hospice offers community members. “I was exhausted and the doctors said, ‘you can’t do this by yourself anymore,'” says Diamond. After Ed moved into Hospice, “I could just be with him then. It’s a great facility. I can’t recommend it enough.”
After Ed died, she attended Hospice’s grief counselling sessions. “It’s a whole new life when you’re on your own.”
She continues to support Hospice through the Purple Tea Party and silent auction—two quilts that she helped work on will be up for bids—and she’s a member of The 500 Club.
That kind of support is critical for Hospice Huntsville, says Melissa Polischuk, the organization’s fund development and public relations co-ordinator. “Fundraising events like the Purple Tea Party, Hike for Hospice and Swim for Hospice are crucial to funding all of our programs and services. Every dollar that is donated is so important.”
Admission to the tea party is by donation to Hospice. You’ll be treated to sandwiches, coffee and tea from The Bears Den and sweet treats from Whimsical Bakery. Local songstress Christina Hutt will provide the entertainment.
Whether or not you can attend, advance bidding in the silent auction is available to everyone during Huntsville Place Mall’s business hours—you’ll find it in a storefront near Winners—from Wednesday, April 4 until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 7. “We have items to suit any budget,” says Polischuk. “The response from local businesses and individuals has been incredible.”
Also look for the purple boots placed at businesses around town and drop in your spare change—or more—in support of Hospice.
For more information on Hike for Hospice, being held this year on May 6 at River Mill Park, visit hospicehuntsville.com.
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