“No one has to face the end of life alone,” says Kim Ross, director of Spartanburg Regional Hospice and Palliative Care.

The hospice team – doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers – is “here to help,” she said.

And Spartanburg Regional Foundation's Hospice Special Needs Fund provides key support along the way.

It enables caregivers “to go the extra mile” for patients and families, said Gina De La Cruz Turcotte, director of philanthropy for the Foundation.

Turcotte is excited about the upcoming Hope Blooms for Hospice Luncheon to be held on May 2 at the Spartanburg Marriott. The event will raise money for the Hospice Special Needs Fund, which benefits the hospice program in diverse ways:  direct financial assistance for qualifying patients, a holiday meals program and other special occasions for families, bereavement services, and more.

“The Hospice Special Needs Fund is unique to our hospice program,” Turcotte said. “We hear from both families and the hospice staff what an important difference it makes. So we are truly grateful for our Hope Blooms sponsors and table hosts and for all who buy a ticket or donate.”

The luncheon will feature a presentation by Reid Bowyer, who will share his perspectives on hospice care. He is a former hospice chaplain, and in the past year two of his family members and a longtime friend have been in the care of Spartanburg Regional Hospice.

WSPA 7 News reporter and weekend anchor Kimberely Brown will emcee the event. Brown is a member of the Foundation's Hospice Division board.

The program will include information on the reach and overall activity of the hospice program. For instance, Spartanburg Regional Hospice served 1,027 patients across four counties in 2018. The volunteer program is impressive, with 82 community members who share their time and efforts.

Turcotte believes that attendees will come away with “a sense of hope and inspiration and with an appreciation for Spartanburg Regional Hospice as an essential community resource. And it will be an opportunity to see how contributions to the Hospice Special Needs Fund support others in need.”

Seating for the Hope Blooms for Hospice luncheon is limited. For more information or to make a donation, contact Turcotte at 864-560-6725 or [email protected], or visit https://regionalfoundation.com/events/hope-blooms/.