The holiday season is shaping up to be a lot different for the Castlegar Hospice Society this year.
December usually means receptions, memorial tree displays, fundraising campaigns and support groups — all featuring lots of people gathering together.
“It is a very busy month for us,” said Hospice director Suzanne Lehbauer.
This December some of the fundraisers have moved online, but the organization has entered into a partnership with local caterer Kim’s Creations to provide a festive holiday meal delivered right to your door.
Meals will be delivered on Saturday, Dec. 12, but the sign-up deadline is Dec. 8.
The meal features a charcuterie starter, a salad, a main dish choice of beef tenderloin with peppercorn brandy sauce or chicken supreme with sage brown butter sauce or caprese portabella mushroom with a balsamic reduction, potato mousseline, roasted vegetables and a dark chocolate dessert.
The cost is $75 per person and includes tax and delivery. A portion of the proceeds will go straight to Castlegar Hospice.
Lehbauer says part of the idea was to offer businesses a way to have a virtual Christmas party with their employees — everyone gets a meal delivered to their house and the group can then gather virtually through Zoom or another platform.
Celebrate a Life
The Celebrate a Life holiday tree display has moved online for this year. The event usually features an array of trees set up in the lobby of the Super 8. People could view the displays, fill out a gift tag in remembrance of a loved one to place on the trees and make a donation to hospice on site.
This year there will be a small display set up at the hotel, but it will feature instructions on how to donate online.
There will be a virtual memorial tree on the castlegarhospice.org website. Memorial tags can be added and donations can be made right on the site.
Grief support
Lehbauer will be hosting a Handling the Holidays grief support meeting on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. at the Sandman Inn, as long as COVID-19 protocols in place at the time allow for gatherings.
The meeting will feature 20 minutes of relaxation yoga. Lehbauer says the session has something for everyone, no matter how “bendy” you are.
The yoga will be followed by a support session featuring videos and holiday tool kits. Grief support workers will be on hand to help guide participants as they face the holiday season.
The meeting is free, but registration is required as spaces are limited. Phone 250-304-1266 or email suzanne.lehbauer@interiorhealth.ca for more information.