Hospice Services of Matthews has scheduled a Grief-Healing workshop entitled “Coping with the Loss of a Loved One - A Workshop for Healing Hearts” at Matthews Public Library on Thursday, June 19th, form 5:30 to 7 pm. This workshop is free of charge and no pre-registration is necessary. Michael Flynn, bereavement support coordinator for Hospice, will lead a discussion of healthy patterns of grief and healing. Light refreshments will be served.
For details, call Kimberly Polk 704-846-4339 or Michael Flynn 704-292-2102

Hospice of Union County raised more than $102,000 at its annual Golf Tournament on Monday, May 19 at Providence Country Club!  A full roster of foursomes had simply gorgeous weather in which to enjoy a wonderful barbecue lunch and full afternoon of golf before returning to the clubhouse for food and fun, in the form of the raffle and silent auction.

Rob and Jean Kreisher, the tournament’s co-directors were elated over the total and the room was truly abuzz with excitement after Executive Director, Mike Linker, announced the days proceeds.  A long list of thank you’s were given both at the tournament and in follow-up ads and personal notes to the sponsors and donors.

 ”You just never know how successful any given year will be - but this year, we simply knocked it out of the park,” said Rob Kreisher.  “We can only use this year as a benchmark for future years and keep working and believing that people recognize what a great cause this is.”

As with all Hospice of Union County fundraisers, all of the proceeds go towards patient care. 

Hospice of Union County has scheduled grief workshops, entitled “Coping with Loss of a Loved One - A Workshop for Healing Hearts” at three locations in May and June.  Hospice of Union County’s bereavement support services are open to the public and one need not have had a family member at Hospice to attend.  The workshops are conducted free of charge and light refreshments are served.

Thursday, May 15 from 5:30 to 7:00pm, the workshop will be taking place at the Waxhaw Public Library.

Tuesday, June 3 from 5:30 to 7:00pm, the workshop is happening at the Lockhart Taylor Center on the SPCC campus in Wadesboro.

Thursday, June 19 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm, the workshop will be presented at the Matthews Public Library.

The workshop is intended to be an interactive evening of sharing and learning, with participants encouraged to share examples from their own life of both the challenges and options to overcome the life changes that come with grieving the loss of a loved one.

There is also a regularly scheduled Bereavement Support Group which will meet at the main campus in Monroe at 6pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month.  The next meetings will be May 13 and May 27.  Please join us.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Michael Flynn, Bereavement Services Coordinator at 704-292-2102.  

Hospice of Union County held the Groundbreaking Ceremony for their Hospice House III on Tuesday, April 8.  More than 100 supporters ranging from political and civic leaders to volunteers to staff to major donors for the Capital Campaign to fund Hospice House III were there to help turn the dirt.

One of the wonderful things about Hospice projects is that they almost always involve family members of patients, both past and present.  As one said, “It’s what I feel passionate about - helping people who are going through the same thing we went through and helping them like you all [Hospice of Union County] helped us.”  In so many ways, that same sentiment was expressed by leaders of the Capital Campaign, including Carol and Carlton Tyson, as well as Larry Helms as they made short statements regarding their involvement with Hospice and with the Capital Campaign, particularly. 

Construction of the House should begin shortly, with an anticipated date of Spring 2009 for being able to receive and care for patients.

Watch as you drive by the main campus at 700 W. Roosevelt Blvd. in Monroe for construction equipment and signs of activity on construction of the Hospice House! 

Hospice of Union County believes that Hospice workers (staff and volunteer) aren’t hired - they’re called.

So we’re putting out the word. 

We have a ministry opportunity available at Hospice of Union County for those who feel called to be the “eyes and ears” of Hospice for their church congregation.  The Watchman  Program offers someone the opportunity to learn more about Hospice and both what Hospice can do for the members of their church family who may need it, as well as how the church can be involved with Hospice.

If you feel called to fill this ministry or know someone in your congregation who might feel this calling, please contact the program director, Pamela Collins at 704-292-2105.

Hospice of Union County is sponsoring a blood drive for the American Red Cross on Wednesday, February 20, from 2:00pm to 6:30pm at the Red Cross office on East Franklin Street.  Hospice staff feels strongly about giving back to the community in which we live and work and we believe that this is one spectacular way to do it.

 If you would like to come out and join us, walk-ins are welcome - or you can schedule an appointment by calling Pamela Collins at 704-292-2105 or the Red Cross office at 704-283-7402.

 The Red Cross office is located at 608 East Franklin Street in Monroe.

Hospice of Union County will be holding its’ annual day camp for kids, Camp Whittle, on Saturday, March 1 at the Main Campus in Monroe from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.  Activities for the day focus on promoting healthy grief patterns and facilitating the healing process.  Children who are grieving need a safe place to express their feelings - someone to talk with openly about their thoughts and fears - and guidance to help them incorporate the loss into their lives.  Children grieve differently than adults, so they benefit from the specialized support of those skilled at working with children, and the opportunity to interact with other children and teens who have experienced the death of loved ones.

The Camp Whittle program uses art, music, storytelling, video and play activities in a group setting.  The day is designed to help children express feelings, remember the person they loved and provide them with ‘tools’ to continue towards healing.  Lunch and snacks are provided.

If you know of a child who you believe would benefit from attending this camp, please call the Bereavement Coordinator, Rev. Michael Flynn at 704-292-2102 or go to our website www.houc.org to look for further information and download the pre-registration form.

Hospice of Union County has scheduled a Grief Workshop at the Waxhaw Public Library on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 5:30pm.  This two-hour workshop is open to the public. Our Bereavement Coordinator, Rev. Michael Flynn, will discuss healthy patterns of grief and healing.  This is intended to be an interactive session, with input from the participants, as well as our staff.

There will be handouts and reading lists available and light refreshments will be served.  If you have any questions, please call Kim Davis at 704-243-4424 or Michael Flynn at 704-292-2102.

Santa and Elvis visited our patients over the holidays!  We were so lucky to have Elvis - a.k.a. Joe Clough - (what a wonderful voice!) come to Hospice of Union County and sing for our patients staying in the Hospice Houses on campus.  He took time to speak to each patient and took requests for their favorite Elvis tunes, from gospel to Christmas to other all-time favorites such as Love Me Tender.  We would like to thank him for his gift of time and talent!

Speaking of gifts………..Santa Claus arrived on Christmas Eve (right on schedule) and visited with the patients, bringing Christmas cards and holiday cheer by the bagful!  Again, we are so very grateful to both of these ‘famous’ folks for adding to our Christmas cheer!

Hospice of Union County was blessed to have several groups caroling at the Hospice Houses, located on our main campus in Monroe, during the holiday season.  Church choirs, children’s groups and families came to sing, bring more than music to the patients at our facility.  Groups from Mt. Carmel Baptist, Hillcrest Baptist, Wingate Baptist, Lee Park Baptist, Midway Baptist, Friendship Baptists, Unionville Baptist and Benton Crossroads Baptist Church all shared their wonderful singing talents with our patients.  The bright little faces of the children’s groups were especially wonderful to see!  Hospice of Union County would like to thank those groups and their larger church congregations for the gifts of time and talent that they gave this holiday season.