This year's No Place Like Home fundraiser for The Huron Hospice will celebrate local food with a Farm to Fork dinner at the Holmesville Community Centre.
Manager of Fund Development Christopher Walker said the event started during the pandemic to raise money for end of life care as close to home and as much like home as possible.
"The No Place Like Home Telethon was created at the beginning of COVID when we were all stuck at home, and so we just thought it would be fitting to have a fundraiser called No Place Like Home, since that's where we were," he explained. "It was so successful, it carried on for four years. We really liked the No Place Like Home concept, so we've just changed it into a celebration of Huron County food."
Walker said the fundraiser will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2024, with Part II Bistro of Goderich serving up a dinner based on the 100-mile diet, featuring food from Huron County, along with some Ontario and Canada options.
“We will have to travel further than 100 miles for the salmon. The dinner will feature local wine and beer tastings and a unique raffle,” he said. “There will be an auction with some fun locally themed items.”
Walker pointed out that celebrating the theme of home invites conversations, memories, and stories about hospice and the best of home in Huron County.
"There'll be a testimonial brought to us by a family who have used the hospital services. Testimonials are really important because they allow us to tell a little bit of our story," Walker added. "We've heard things like, all the nurses who work at Bender House are so kind and so thoughtful and so quick with a hug. But, at the same time, they're there to help a grandchild learn the Two Step while the grandfather is watching on from his bedside."
Walker pointed out the province provides half of their revenue, funding some of the nursing costs.
He said the fundraiser will help cover the other 50 per cent of their costs, including home hospice support, and loss and grief programs.
"The loss and grief support programs are really important because they carry on after someone has died, and families have to pick up and move along," he continued. "For some grief is really easy to handle. For others, it's just a heavy weight hanging around their neck, and so we help them learn to manage that grief."
Walker said the hospice, named Bender House, near Clinton, has played a crucial role for families in the area.
"There have been 250 families have used our services since 2018, 72 of those families were just last year," he revealed. "Normally, we we have been caring for about 50 families a year, but last year, we were fortunate we were able to take care of 72 families."
Home hospice and respite volunteers made 687 visits to 104 families, and 103 people attended 591 grief group sessions. Huron Hospice services are free, and public support ensures they remain free to all who need them.
Alecia Anderson, Huron County Coordinator of Tourism and Local Food, will act as co-emcee and be joined by Ben Lobb, Member of Parliament, as co-emcee and celebrity auctioneer.
"We are pleased to have Aleica and Ben join us again. Each of them knows Huron County and the food scene better than most. The fact that Alecia and Ben are making time for Huron Hospice shows how important the Hospice is for everyone across the county." said Walker.
Tickets for the Dinner are $150 each or $1,200 for a table of eight.
If you or a family member needs Huron Hospice care, do not hesitate to call 519-606-6600.