Gala fundraiser sets record

WOOSTER — The annual Gala and Benefit Auction, held at the Shisler Conference Center, raised a record $44,000 for LifeCare Hospice.

The March 17 event was centered around a 1970s “Saturday Night Fever” theme and included dancing by a team of “disco docs” and a flash mob from Katee’s Dance Stop.

Those attending the gala danced and reminisced the evening away.

“The ‘70s event brought back so many memories,” said Susan Marlar, CPA, M.T. director, Tax Service Group. “The Hospice organizers did a great job to bring in every aspect of the time; from dress, appetizers and decorations to the music — (it was) a very enjoyable event.”

“All the funds will stay local and will go to where there is the greatest need,” said Jenny Gerrick, team leader community liaisons for LifeCare Hospice. “One of the uses will be to cover the gap between our full range of services we offer and what is covered by a patient’s insurance.”

Not only does the organization provide care, but they also offer services like bereavement support services, emotional support and advanced care planning.

“We enhance the quality of life for patients and their families by providing compassionate care and support during times of serious illness,” said Gerrick. “But, some of our patients do so well that they are able to leave our services for a period of time as their symptoms improve.”

One area that garners a lot of attention is the Bereavement Services that offers educational classes that are focused on a particular loss such as sibling, significant other, parental, children and suicide.

“You don’t have to have someone in our care to utilize the bereavement services,” Gerrick said. “We have specific programs for kids that are dealing with grief called Camp Waves of Emotion.”

Another service offered is palliative medicine. Palliative care is a medical subspeciality that treats symptoms of chronic life limiting illnesses or patients that do not require hospice care.

“We, through our volunteers, help fulfill requests of those in our care,” said Melissa Elswick, community liaison for LifeCare Hospice. “We incorporate extensive training and help people participate in activities or hobbies that they enjoy. Whatever that activity is, gardening, pet care we will make every effort to see that they can continue to enjoy it.”

“We can always use volunteers to help in many areas, not just direct patient care,” she said. “Right now we have more than 200 volunteers donating their time.”

For information about LifeCare hospice, visit www.lifecarehospice.org.

Reporter Dan Starcher can be reached at 330-287-1626 or [email protected]. He is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/​WoosterWriter.

CREDIT: DAN STARCHER