Light up the holidays

WASILLA — A Valley tradition spanning more than a decade is standing tall again this holiday season.

Officials erected remembrance trees Monday for the annual Light Up a Life celebration at the Koslosky Center in Palmer and Meta Rose Square in Wasilla, carrying on a practice of remembering deceased loved ones with stars and angels adorning each tree.

The Meta Rose Square location is a venue change from the tree’s old home in the Cottonwood Creek Mall.

Light Up a Life serves as a major fundraiser for the Hospice Foundation of Mat-Su, a local non-profit that strives to provide support hospice patients and their families.

People who want to participate can buy stars or angels with the name of a deceased loved one as a way to remember them and contribute to a cause.

Stars cost $15 for the first one, and $10 for each additional star. There are also gold stars available at no charge to hang on the trees, and, for a more sizable donation, angels are sold for $50.

All the names on donated stars and angels will be read during a remembrance ceremony Jan. 11 at the Palmer Depot.

Relatively new, the Hospice Foundation is trying its best to educate the public about what it does.

“We support the patients and families that are receiving hospice service,” said Pat Karella, who chairs the organization’s board.

Karella said being a local non-profit allows more focus on using resources in the Valley.

“All the money we raise stays here in the Valley and is used to provide services for hospice patients,” Karella said.

At least one service the non-profit provides is an artist-in-residence program for those in hospice.

The program sends an artist to help patients create art, or, if they can’t make art for themselves, the artist will take their feelings, memories and emotions to create something for them.

The Hospice Foundation also provides what it calls special needs grants to pay for plane tickets for family members who need help getting to Alaska, or gas cards for those who can drive to visit or take care of a friend or relative.

The foundation could also use some help in the form of man power, Karella said.

“We’re always looking for help,” she said. “We could use people with lots of skills.”

Karella said of particular need is an accountant willing to help the foundation.

It’s all about providing whatever support the foundation’s members can for the hospice patients and families, she said.

The Light Up a Life tradition is just one way to raise some of the funds needed to meet the goals the foundation is striving for.

Karella said people will be manning the trees starting Friday and remain at them until Christmas Eve.

Along with collecting donations, Karella said volunteers working the trees will also be there to listen.

Just being able to talk about a lost loved one often helps out more than anything, Karella said, and her volunteers are willing and able.

“Our volunteers are very good listeners,” she said. “They enjoy listening to the wonderful memories people have.”

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.