Texas County Memorial Hospital Healthcare Foundation is beginning a new holiday giving program called “Celebrate Our Memories” in partnership with TCMH Hospice of Care.
Beginning Nov. 27, a nine-foot Christmas tree in the front lobby of the hospital will hold red Christmas ball shaped ornaments that can be “gifted” and inscribed with the name or a message in honor or in memory of someone special in their life.
The foundation will divide all funds generated by the program with another TCMH entity – Hospice of Care — allowing it to benefit two local charitable organizations.
The “Celebrate Our Memories” program will take the place of the “Let Our Light Shine” program that TCMH has held on the hospital’s campus in recent years.
“The foundation worked with Hospice of Care to create a program that we could do inside the hospital,” said Jay Gentry of the foundation.
As part of Celebrate Our Memories, those who have gifted an ornament will be invited to keep the ornament as a personal keepsake of their memory at the end of the holiday season, after the tree is removed the hospital’s front lobby.
The ornaments are hung on the tree as they are gifted. Sponsorship of one ornament is $20, and anyone can gift as many ornaments as they wish. Groups or individuals are encouraged to participate. They can honor a group or an individual such as a teacher, a parent, a friend or other loved one.
Anyone who gifts an ornament can inscribe a name or their own message on the ornament, or they can leave a name or message that will be inscribed on the ornament for them.
“It’s the goal of the foundation and Hospice of Care to have at least 100 ornaments gifted in recognition of someone this holiday season,” Gentry said.
Hospice of Care uses the funding they receive from the program to provide hospice care, supplies and equipment for patients and their families in Texas County and surrounding areas. The foundation uses their portion of the funds in meeting a mission of ensuring the quality of healthcare services for children, women and men at the county hospital.
“I am already soliciting and receiving sponsorships for the Celebrate Our Memories program,” Gentry said. “We hope to have several ornaments on the tree as soon as it goes up.”
Those who wish to gift an ornament should contact Gentry at 417-967-1377 for a form to fill out. They are also available at the TCMH Auxiliary Gift Shop at the front entrance to the hospital and on the TCMH Web site at www.tcmh.org.
A letter of recognition will be sent to those who gift an ornament, and ornaments will be available for pick up at the hospital after the holiday season. Between Christmas and New Year’s the names of those honored with an ornament will also be displayed on the hospital’s electronic communication board.
All proceeds from the program will remain in the area and directly impact the local community. Any donation made to the TCMH Healthcare Foundation or to Hospice of Care is tax deductible.