- February 7, 2025
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There's a new Christmas tree in Volusia County and its purpose is to support the Patient Memorial Fund, which is part of Halifax Health's hospice program.
"[The hospice program] provides care to all of our patients regardless of their ability to pay," Priscilla Chanfrau-Chacon, Halifax Health Hospice and Palliative Care fund development manager, said. "It's a really wonderful and amazing thing."
Through the 28th Annual Tree of Remembrance Holiday Collection, individual's can buy ornaments to take home or donate to the Lawrence E. Whelan Begin Again Children’s Grief Center where children and adults can receive support after a loved one has died.
The tree has been set up at the Volusia Mall.
Once the ornaments are bought, a blue or white memory tag with a loved one's name on it is put on the Tree of Remembrance in the Volusia Mall.
According to Chanfrau-Chacon, each year new styles of the ornaments are brought in for purchases. However, some such as a bear ornament for the Grief Center, maintain a similar theme. More than 1,000 ornaments are available for purchase.
"It's a wonderful way for people to memorialize or honor a loved one," Chanfrau-Chacon said. "And sometimes it acts closure for them."
Partnering with the people from WORC
This year, Halifax Health also partnered with individuals from the Work Oriented Rehabilitation Center to create handcrafted ornaments to be sold as part of the Tree of Remembrance collection.
The WORC organization provides a way for people with disabilities to receive job training and develop work skills. For the Tree of Remembrance, people from WORC made two handcrafted ornaments that were specially designed for Halifax Health Hospice.
The Tree of Remembrance was set up on Tuesday, Nov. 21 and will be on display until Saturday, Dec. 23.
For more information on Halifax Health – Hospice programs and services, visit halifaxhealth.org/hospice or call 386-425-4701.
