Hugs for Hospice is a program I started after the loss of both my parents. The purpose of this program is to provide a variety of handmade cards for individuals, and their families, who are going through end-of-life care. A handmade card, a paper hug, makes such a difference. I know because I received hundreds of paper hugs after losing my parents. So now, I want to extend that same support and love to individuals receiving hospice care and their families.
Background
Let me give you a little bit of background on how this project came about. The health of my parents began to decline in early 2021. My mom was in and out of the hospital with heart related issues and my dad had to undergo several knee surgeries due to complications. Both of my parents lived with my husband and I for a few weeks until they were strong enough to return to their home.
In June of 2021, my mom passed away from a heart condition. It was a difficult time for all of us. My dad came to live with my husband and I shortly after my mom passed away. He was grieving the loss of my mom and trying to recover from two knee surgeries. In July 2021, he went through a full knee replacement surgery. His recovery was going extremely well and he was making plans to go back to work in September. However, on August 17, 2021 he suffered a massive stroke for which he would never recover. He spent 4 days in the hospital before being transferred to hospice. He passed away 24 hours after entering hospice care.
Hugs for Hospice
Hugs for Hospice is my way to give back to AngelsGrace Hospice for the love and support they showed to my dad and our family during his end-of-life care. The care and support my dad and our family received was exceptional. AngelsGrace continues to keep in touch with us on a regular basis since the loss of our dad.
AngelsGrace Hospice is located in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. They provide specialized end-of-life care for people with a life-limiting illness or injury. Hospice care focuses on managing pain and other symptoms, while also providing emotional and spiritual support to the patient and family.
Besides supporting patients and families during end-of-life care, Hugs for Hospice is also a way to honor my mom and her love of card making. My Mom truly loved Stampin’ Up! She is the reason that I became a demonstrator in 2011. We stamped together for years on a regular basis. She loved creating and, of course, we both loved the mother-daughter time together. She created hundreds of cards which she had neatly stored in multiple containers. Each container held a specific type of card: birthday, get well, sympathy, thank you, etc. I shared her cards with friends and family during the memorial service for our parents. The remainder of her beautiful cards were donated to AngelsGrace in her memory. She would be so happy to know that her cards were being put to good use.
Make a Difference
In June 2022, I donated over 500 handmade cards to AngelsGrace Hospice in Oconomowoc. The majority of the cards were created by my mom and I over the past several years. The cards will be used to send a little paper hug to patients, families, staff and volunteers at AngelsGrace Hospice.
Card making is a great way to give back to your local community and make a difference in the lives of others. I encourage you to reach out to a hospice center in your local community to see how you can provide support and make a difference.
You are also welcome to join me in my Hugs for Hospice program to help support AngelsGrace Hospice in Wisconsin.
If you would like to donate handmade cards for the Hugs for Hospice program, simply fill out the form below and I will reach out to you. I welcome any amount of cards you would like to donate.
Card Donations
Thank you to everyone who has supported this program since 2022 with their beautiful hand-made card donations! Together we have donated thousands of cards for AngelsGrace Hospice! Your kindness and generosity are greatly appreciated. We are making a difference in the lives of others.
