Keeping the Dream Alive
Stuart F. Meyer had a dream to create a place where someone who needed the special kind of care that hospice brings could live out their final days with dignity and with the support of a great team of professionals. That dream was realized with the opening of the Stuart F. Meyer Hospice House (SFMHH) in April of 2007. The majority of funds raised to support the building of the hospice house were local dollars and that kind of community involvement continues each and every day to keep the dream alive.
Friends with Flowers
In the summer of 2006, Sue O'Kelley, Ph.D. was inspired by an article in Cottage Living about a group of folks in Greensboro, North Carolina who anonymously deliver bedside bouquets to hospice patients. Sue contacted some of her friends and formed a local Friends with Flowers with a mission to deliver fresh flowers on a weekly basis to hospice patients. And what a better place to do that than at SFMHH!
But unlike the Greensboro group, the Flagler group (5 women who meet every Tuesday morning at one of the members home) create their arrangements from flowers solicited from local florists, grocery stores, churches, funeral homes, and locations where events are held. (See list of contributors below). Just starting out, this group creates all of the arrangements that are delivered to the hospice house where they are distributed to those in the inpatient unit or to hospice patients still living at home. All the work done by volunteers! This small group of women are dedicated to bringing beauty and freshness into the rooms of those who are perhaps living their last days. What a beautiful contribution!
Special thanks to those local Flagler county merchants who regularly contribute flowers to the effort: Albertsons, Bellevue Florist & Gifts - Flagler Beach, Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, Four U Flowers, Garden of Eden Florist, Hammock Flower Market, Lohman's Funeral Home - Palm Coast, Simply Roses Florist, Wal-Mart, Winn-Dixie, SR 100.
Crazy 8s Quilters
A group of Flagler County residents use their talents to stitch together the most amazing quilts to bring warmth and comfort to hospice patients. These quilts are delivered to Florida Hospital HospiceCare staff to be distributed to hospice patients at the Stuart F. Meyer Hospice House and to those who still live in their own homes while under the care of the hospice team.
This group of ladies, led by Pam Taylor, relies on the generosity of the community to the cost of the quilts out of their own pocket.
To support their efforts by a donation of fabrics or funds to purchase more materials, contact the Volunteer Coordinator of Florida Hospital HospiceCare at 1-800-404-1133.
Ann McCann & Teddy Bear Bags
The creative mind of Ann McCann has produced the most adorable teddy bear bags that are irrestible to our hospice patients. Used to hold personal items, these bears become a favorite of all in no time.
Prayers & Squares
Local resident, Jan Pewarski is a member of the Palm Coast Evangelical Temple and is the leader of a group of quilters who are part of Prayers and Squares, an interfaith outreach ministry that combines the gift of prayer with the gift of a hand-tied quilt. Their motto “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.”
RSVP Blanketeers
For many years now, the RSVP Blanketeers have provided crocheted and knitted items for the patients of HospiceCare. These items provide not only a physical warmth, but give that "warm fuzzy" feeling to all who receive an item.