SHERMAN, Texas. Dec. 3, 2012 – A beige paper dove seems too simple to represent the magic of the holiday season, but for Home Hospice, a beige paper dove is a way to make that magic happen. 

This Thursday, December 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke, and Fannin Counties will be hosting Dove Day in Kelly Square to go along with their Light Up A Life Fundraiser.  An individual can place a dove on the Tree of Lights to remember someone they love or respect that has passed on or to honor someone they love or admire who is still living.  To “sweeten the pot” anyone who places a dove on the tree will receive a Dove chocolate.  Donations received through Light Up A Life support patient care, allowing Home Hospice to provide care to any patient, regardless of their financial status.  Home Hospice’s goal is to place 100 doves on the tree this day. 

The beige paper doves are deceptively simple, but magic happens when a name is written on it: someone is honored, loved, and remembered; someone feels warmth, appreciation and pride in being able to bring their loved one to public notice and attention; someone receives the comfort, peace and security of hospice care provided by hospice doctors, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, and all the medicine and supplies that go along with that care. 

“I was watching the news before the Light Up A Life tree lighting event and they focused on a dove which happened to be the one I placed in memory of my husband; Oh my! What it did for me to see his name right there on the screen!” said Nan Jones, long-time volunteer for Home Hospice.  “People just don’t know what it means to see your loved one’s name written on the dove and on view publicly until it happens to them.” 

It is feelings such as Nan’s that causes a dove to also double as a great Christmas gift.  A mini dove can be filled out and presented as a gift to the family or person being honored to show that they remember that person’s loved one and want to help perpetuate their name and memory in a visible way.

To add to the events of Dove Day, The Women’s Gift Exchange in Kelly Square will be donating all of their proceeds from the day of December 6 to benefit the Home Hospice Light Up A Life Fundraiser. 

“Whether you participate by placing a dove on the tree or you simply spend a few minutes reading the names already placed on the tree, we hope people take a few minutes out of their day to visit the Tree of Lights,” said Barb Samuelson, volunteer coordinator for Home Hospice.  “We hope many people sponsor a dove so that the magic lives on.”  

Home Hospice is a non-profit organization, founded in 1982, dedicated to providing education, programs, services and quality care to palliate physical, emotional and spiritual symptoms at end-of-life for patients, families and caregivers, regardless of their ability to pay, as well as all in our communities who grieve.