November is National Hospice and Palliative Care month. As president of the Board of Hospice of the Panhandle it seems a good time to express the thanks of the Board to all of our staff, volunteers, all of our community supporters and to our patients and families.

Hospice serves an average of 225 patients per day in the four counties of the Eastern Panhandle. It was founded over 30 years ago to be present with and enable those in our communities who are in the last days of their lives to spend them living as well and as comfortably as possible.

A broad spectrum of care is provided, primarily in patients’ homes. Over and over again we hear of the wonderful work of our staff and volunteers “in the field” as care, comfort, expertise and a plethora of services are provided. All of our services are “patient driven.” As a non-profit organization we exist to serve our patients and their families. I am continually amazed at the overwhelming difference our staff and volunteers make in the lives of those who entrust themselves to our care.

We at Hospice are always looking for ways in which we can serve our patients and community better. Our current “Building the Dream” capital campaign is perhaps the most visible of our efforts, but each and every day in small and larger ways we work and strive for excellence, knowing that the work we do is a privilege entrusted to us at a time when people are often most in need.

Our pledge to our community is to continue to offer the care for which we have become known and to look always to new and better ways to serve.

Thank you for your trust. Thank you for your always generous support that allows us to serve you.