Honor lost loved ones this season

Hospice Foundation of Mat-Su Inc. volunteers Sharon Seagondollar and Larry Winter set up a Christmas tree at Meta Rose Square in Wasilla Nov. 23. The annual “Light Up a Life” fund-raiser offers people a chance to honor lost loved ones by buying paper silver stars or angels to write their names on and add to the tree. Stars are $15 for the first one and $10 for each additional star. Angels are $50 each. Gold stars are offered free as a way to honor people who have died in Hospice care in the past year. And teddy bears are free for children to add to the tree as a way to help them deal with the loss of people and pets who are important to them. Volunteers will be at the trees to listen and accept donations in Wasilla — and at a second tree in Palmer at the Koslosky Center — from the day after Thanksgiving through the day before Christmas. Mat-Su Valley residents donated about $8,000 to the fund-raiser last year, according to the Hospice Foundation of Mat-Su.