Dec 2011 - Ridge Meadows Hospice Society

Dec 2011 - Ridge Meadows Hospice Society

The
Grief has no time line
ove
D
Newsletter of the Ridge Meadows Hospice Society
Celebrate a Life
Celebrate a Life
Time to Remember
November 12-20 the Society presented our annual
“Celebrate a Life” display in Haney Place Mall and
ValleyFair Mall. This event provides the opportunity for members of the community to honour the
memory of loved ones by placing an ornament on
the trees.
December 7 we held our annual “Time to Remember” service at St. George’s Anglican Church. This
was a non-denominational, candle lit evening for
the community to gather and remember loved ones
they have lost.
Contents
Coping with Grief During the Holiday Season • 2
Our Programs • 2
Upcoming Events • 4
Recent Events • 6
Thift Store News • 7
Thank You • 7
In Memoriam Donations • 7
Time to Remember
December 2011
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Coping with Grief During the Holiday Season
The holiday season may mean family and traditions,
and everybody being together. Often, these gatherings remind us of our loved ones who are no longer
with us. It may be a difficult time and everyone reacts differently. It may be that people react more
sensitively to things. Everyone has their own way of
coping. It is important that you look after yourself
and find your way of getting through these difficult
times. Here are some ideas that may help you better
manage the holiday season:
Allow yourself to be sad – Christmas may have
been a time you spent with someone dear to you. It
is normal to feel sad that they are not with you. It
may help to take some time out, to remember the
person you love.
You may want to:
• Find ways to incorporate memories of your loved
ones into the holiday traditions.
• Start a new tradition.
• Do something that you used to do together.
• Write a letter to the person.
• Revisit that favorite spot you had.
• Share some of the memories.
It is OK to enjoy yourself – it may be difficult to
celebrate when you are missing someone you love. It
is not uncommon to have different feelings such as
sadness, guilt or excitement. Getting together with
family and close friends may be a chance to remember the good times and it is okay to relax and have a
laugh. Having fun does not mean that you miss that
person any less.
Look after yourself – Remembering that this may
be a tough time for you is important. This may
mean that you have to treat yourself with a bit of
care. If possible, treat yourself to something you enjoy doing.
Talk to someone – Having someone you trust to
talk to about how you are feeling may be helpful.
Avoid holding your feelings in – Grieving is a normal and healthy step in dealing with loss. Keeping
things to yourself may mean that the tension builds
up inside you. Finding a way to get out what you are
feeling may help you to feel better.
Everyone has their own way of coping.
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Our Programs
Visiting Volunteers
The newest group of visiting volunteers completed
their 30 hours of training and had their graduation
of November 15. We would like to welcome: Kishwor, Nancy, Cathy, Jan, Lea, Jo-Ann, Laura-Lea, Jessie, Mandy, Louella, Heather, Christine and Gordon.
Bereavement Support Groups
The 8 week Ridge Meadows Hospice Society bereavement support group was completed on November 22.
Relaxation Circle
The Relaxation Circle continues to be such a valuable resource. I have heard lately from bereaved people who have been attending, that Circle helps them
to sleep at night. We all know that unless you have
a good, restorative sleep, it is really difficult to meet
the demands of the day, let alone face the
challenging work of grief. Sleep is such
a powerful healer for those who are
bereaved, as many of you know.
The volunteers who work at Relaxation Circle make it a priority to
practice their skills and refine themselves as Healing Touch volunteers.
Many of our volunteers are going to pursue their Level 4 in Healing Touch. This speaks to
their dedication, as they see such positive outcomes
for the people they support. If you would like to
know more about our Relaxation Circle, please call
the office and ask to speak to Lindsey Willis, Coordinator of Volunteers.
The 8 week Mental Wellness group was completed
on November 30.
The walking group is taking a break until the new
year when the weather gets nicer.
“Time to Heal” drop-in group wrapped up December 8.
Programs in 2012
New training sessions and support groups will start
again in late January. Watch the community calendars in the local papers for details, or follow us on
twitter and check our website.
All groups are offered free of charge, but
registration is required.
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Upcoming Events
Gift Wrapping
For the second year Ridge Meadows Hospice Society
is offering gift wrapping at Haney Place Mall from
December 17 to 24 during holiday mall hours.
All wrapping is by donation and goes towards our
volunteer and beareavement support programs.
If you love to wrap gifts, we are looking for volunteers to help us with this fundraiser.
Bottle Drive
RMHS is hosting a bottle drive fundraiser on
Sunday, January 8, 2012 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
The collection area will be in the parking lot at the
Thrift Store (12011 224th St. – please enter off
224th). We will provide a “drive-thru” service so
please help support our programs by bringing us
your returnables on January 8!
On-Going Bottle Collection
for RMHS
We have accounts set up at the following depots for
those who wish to have 100% of the funds from
their returnables benefit Ridge Meadows Hospice
Society:
Haney Bottle Depot
#2-22935 Lougheed Hwy: Please quote acct
#489 or “Hospice Society” and please be sure to
keep your receipts and remit them to us when
you have the chance so that we may collect the
funds.
Maple Ridge Bottle Depot
#15-20475 Lougheed Hwy: Please quote “Ridge
Meadows Hospice Society”.
Pitt Meadows Bottle Depot
19090 Lougheed Hwy: Please quote “Ridge
Meadows Hospice Society”.
We thank you for your support!
15th Annual Vistas Run/Walk
Mark your calendars and note the changes for this
year’s Vistas Run.
This year will mark the 15th Annual Vistas Run
and we are planning all sorts of special events for
this day.
The most important note to make is date change.
The past 14 years the Vistas Run was always on the
last Sunday in May, but due to an influx of other
race events this day we have had to move our race
day to Sunday May 13. 2012. Yes, this is Mother’s
Day but we are going to celebrate all the mom’s who
participate and we will have a course that is suitable
for young mothers with strollers to be able to participate.
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Upcoming Events
Evening of Romance - Saturday February 4, 2012
Ridge Meadows Hospice Society is hosting its 2nd
Annual Evening of Romance Fundraising Dinner.
The tempting pasta dinner and desserts will be provided by Organic World Catering and will make
your taste buds fall in love! The evening will include
a 50/50 draw as well as a silent auction. Be sure to
bring your dancing shoes – music and lighting is being generously provided by Scot of Crystal Sounds
Mobile DJ Services. Join us at the Ridge Meadows
Mark Your
Calendars
Seniors Society Centre (12150 224th St., Maple
Ridge). Tickets are just $30 per person until January
18 ($38 after); seniors are $30 on-going. Ticket sales
will end on January 27 in order to give the caterer
our numbers. Last year’s event sold out! If you wish
to purchase tickets or have a donation to provide
for the event, please contact us at 604.463.7722 or
email Kristina@ridgemeadowshospice.org.
December 17-24 Gift Wrap Booth – Haney Place Mall
January 8 Bottle Drive
February 4 Evening Romance
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Recent Events
“New to You” Fashion Event Fundraiser
(above left to right) Norma, Angie,
Rachelle, Lindsay, Helen.
Sunday October 23 was the 2nd
“New to You” Fashion Show. All
the clothing and many accessories modeled were from the thrift
store. The afternoon was enjoyed
by all. After the show the ticket
holders were invited to shop at
the Thrift Store and receive 50%
off their purchases.
Wrap it Up
Ridge Meadows Hospice
Thrift Store participated in
the 2011 ‘Wrap It Up” event,
organized by the Downtown
Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association. Even
though it snowed and was
very cold a lot of people came
out and participated.
Pub Night at The Jolly Coachman Pub & Grill
This fundraiser was a huge success… it was a sell
out! Meat draws were held throughout the evening,
we sold “Hero for Hospice” badges, there was a silent auction and also a 50/50 draw.
The lucky
winner of the
50/50 was Deb
Walters. She
won $535.00
dollars and donated it back to the Society. Thank you Deb!
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Thrift Store News
We would like to welcome the following new volunteers; Marjorie, Chris, Michelle, Judy, Devin, James
and Cylie.
We also welcome our new Assistant Coordinator
Teesha Sharma.
Volunteer Cathy dressed as an elf with
Christmas display at the thrift store.
Paige, Cathy and Diane dressed in costume for
Halloween at the thrift store.
Thank You
We would like to thank the following for recent donations:
Maple Ridge Community Foundation for a
grant towards our Children’s Bereavement Program
Garden Hill Funeral Services for donating the
turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner at McKenney
Creek Hospice Residence.
In Memoriam Donations
September - November 2011
Lana Adams, Veronica Arbuckle, Walter Bird,
Butch Bouchard, Larry Daly, Dr. Dixon-Warren,
Joan Fitzgerald, Heidi Haner, J. St. Hilaire, John
Moreton, Cornelius Neufeld, George Pierce, Glen
Pierce, Erich Podschadly, Gerhard Rutzen, Doug
Schop, Barbara Stepney, Phyllis Swiniarski, Russ
Sterling, Edna Trethewey.
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Ways to Consider Donating
• One-time gift
• Monthly gift – This is an easy, effortless, effective
way to support the Ridge Meadows Society.
• Leaving a Legacy – Make a gift through a will or
other gift planning instrument.
• CanadaHelps – CanadaHelps
is an online fundraising
organization that benefits
Canadian charities and is now available through
our website. All donors need to do is visit our
website www.ridgemeadowshospicesociety.com
and click on the “You Can Help” tab then click
on the CanadaHelps.org logo. You will be guided
on the steps to make your donation and then you
will receive a tax receipt mailed to you directly
from CanadaHelps.
Ridge Meadows Hospice Society
Centre Address
• Visa – Simply call the Resource
Centre and say you would like to
make a donation on your Visa. The transaction
will be processed right then and you will receive a
thank you letter and tax receipt in the mail.
Board of Directors
Phone: 604.463.7722
Fax: 604.463.6358
E-mail: contactus@ridgemeadowshospicesociety.com
Web: www.ridgemeadowshospicesociety.com
Lindsay Norcross
President
Vice-President
Allen LaRose
Teresa McWilliams Secretary
Norma Parker
Treasurer
Director
Adrienne Dale
Helen GamblingDirector
Director
Nathan Logue
Director
Darryl Lucas
Gwen O’Connell Director
Thrift Store Address
Staff
#3 - 12011 224 Street, Maple Ridge, BC V2X 6B7
Phone: 604.463.7711
Laura Cherrille
Executive Director
Lindsey Willis
Coordinator of Volunteers
Kristina Murray
Fund-Raising/Special Events
Coordinator
Dawn Burnett
Office Assistant
Paige Charron
Thrift Store Coordinator
Valerie Knipe
Assistant Thrift Store Coordinator
Reizza Oxale
Assistant Thrift Store Coordinator
Teesha Sharma
Assistant Thrift Store Coordinator
22326A McIntosh Avenue, Maple Ridge
Mailing Address
PO Box 11, Maple Ridge, BC V2X 7E9
Mission Statement
To provide compassion, support and care to patients and loved ones dealing
with end of life experience, grief and mourning.