COOK – The communities of Cook, Orr and Tower will bring light to the darkness as a way to honor and remember loved ones.
The Lights of Love event brings people together to share in their memories and experience a sense of community with a tree-lighting ceremony in each community. 
“Lights of Love is a wonderful opportunity to remember and honor loved ones by supporting quality hospice care in our local areas,” said Becca Bundy, the Virgie Hegg Hospice Partners, LLC (VHHP) Program Director, which puts on the fundraising event. 
It is one of two major fundraisers for the nonprofit that serves hospice patients and their families in the Cook, Orr and Tower areas. VHHP relies on support from fundraisers, memorials, and honorariums to grant the requests for help that come to them. 
“VHHP ensures and facilitates access to quality hospice and palliative care services for all hospice and hospice eligible patients in central St. Louis County,” explained Bundy. “We also support these patients and their families in their time of need.”
VHHP also provides scholarships at graduation for two graduating high school seniors and one college student.
Local clergy and community choirs are a part of the outdoor ceremonies. There is caroling and fellowship following at each site. 
Cook’s ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3 at the city’s gazebo. Orr will host the ceremony outside the Orr Center at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4. Tower’s tree-lighting ceremony will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5 outside the Civic Center. Lights of Love Donation forms will be available at all ceremonies.
Memorials and donations can be made in any amount starting at $5. Any donation that is received in the amount of $100 or more will result in a loved one’s name being placed on the memorial plaque at the Cook Hospital.
With the theme of “lights,” there are three levels of donations starting with $5 – Bulb; $10 – Ice Candle; $25 – String of Lights. These are not items actually purchased, just a way to choose at what level to support hospice. Donations may be given in honor or in memory of a loved one(s).
“VHHP relies on the support of the community to help carry out our mission to bring comfort care services to enrolled hospice patients or hospice eligible patients and their families in our local communities,” said Bundy. “When making a donation or memorial, you are supporting local hospice and hospice eligible patients and their families with comfort care, last wishes and needs not covered by insurance.”
VHHP has been able to help many hospice and hospice eligible patients with medical and other essential bills, groceries, comfort care items, gas and grocery cards, as well as a variety of other needed items and financial assistance. 
“Together we make a difference,” said Bundy. 
To donate, visit: https://vhhp.org/lights-of-love/.