The Southline Palliative Care Committee is gearing up for their annual Tree of Lights Ceremony scheduled for Sunday Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Border Health Centre, located at 301 1st Street West in Climax.
“This is an annual fundraiser that we do,” explained Margaret Toeckes. “One of the staff opens up the Border Health Centre and we have our tree lighting outside. Then everybody who comes, we sing Christmas songs and carols and we serve hot chocolate and (home-made) cookies and just have a little time with the people who show up.”
The tree-lighting ceremony is preceded by two main campaigns, the first being a light bulb sale table at the Climax Lions’ Fowl Supper every October and the second being a table at Frontier's Annual Craft Fair & Home-Based Business Trade Show, held this year on Dec. 1.
“We have amber light bulbs which are in memory of a deceased person, so the majority of the lights on our tree are the amber ones. Then we have coloured lights, and people buy those to wish Season’s Greetings to communities and individuals. They give $5 a bulb, and anybody who buys a bulb, they all receive a tax deductible receipt.”
A large green Bristol board tree inside the Border Health Centre displays the names of people for whom light bulbs have been purchased on colour-coded stickers.
With the Border Health Centre now closed every day at 5 p.m., the remote communities served by the Centre rely on one another and their Emergency Services for after hours or special care, so the Southline Palliative Care Committee has generously supported the Frontier and District Ambulance Service and Home Care.
“First of all we donate to Home Care and it’s to help them purchase needed equipment for people who are being cared for at home. One of our other projects is that we donate funds to the Frontier and District Ambulance, because for us – out here – after 5 p.m. when our health centre is closed, we rely on that ambulance for emergencies. We’ve donated a few thousand dollars to them,” Toeckes explained.
“Recently we started to support Victoria’s Quilts. They make and distribute quilts to people who’ve had cancer or are battling cancer. Many, many quilts have been given. In fact I have one myself, and they’re just beautiful. They do wonderful work and I know people really appreciate getting these quilts.”
The Southline Palliative Care Committee also supports the Blue Christmas service which is planned for Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 7:30 pm at the Climax United Church.
