People socialize and look over silent auction items at last year’s Celebration of Caring Hands fundraiser for the Desert Valley Hospice Society at the Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver. (Contributed photo)

The Desert Valley Hospice Society’s 11th annual Celebration of Caring Hands fundraiser will be held Nov. 17 at the Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver.

The annual fundraiser provides funds for the many programs offered by the society and offers the communities of Osoyoos, Oliver and Okanagan Falls the opportunity to show their support to the society while having a good time.

“It’s a fun event…it’s an opportunity to support the society plus, as well…to meet the volunteers, our board, and other business people within the community,” said Executive Director Donna Gordan.

The event will feature live jazz music performed by Jazz Out West. Wine will be provided by Sonora Desert Winery and there will be both a live and silent auction.

Items for the live auction have yet to be determined, but the silent auctions will comprise of gift baskets provided by local businesses as well as what Gordan calls the “infamous” baked goods auction, for which members of the community donate their baked goods.

“People come to the event just for the baking,” Gordan said.

The theme for this year’s fundraiser is Celebrating Community. “We are going to acknowledge and celebrate the support of our three communities…and the MLA Linda Larson,” Gordan said.

Invitations have been extended to Larson and Mayors Martin Johansen of Oliver and Sue McKortoff of Osoyoos.

The event raised $20,000 last year and Gordan hopes to raise at least that much again this year.

“Part of the fundraiser is to build awareness for the society… All of the programs, except one, are funded by the society and the support of its donors,” said Gordan.

Desert Valley Hospice Society was officially formed in 2006 by a group of hospice volunteers and it became a registered charity in 2007. Its programs support the communities of Oliver, Osoyoos and Okanagan Falls.

Among other things, the society provides spiritual counselling, grief support and palliative care. It offers 10 programs in total. Its programs support not only its clients but also their families and caregivers.

“We are here to support families before, during, at the end of their journey, and then support the people who are left behind,” said Gordan.

Gordan said that due to Canada’s aging population, as well as the average age of the population in Osoyoos in particular, the society plays an important role in the communities it serves by providing services that the local hospital does not.

“We have a senior population. As we age, illnesses and ailments develop and hospice here it’s not just about dying well but it’s about living well,” she said.

At the core of the society are its 50 volunteers. The volunteers, who are trained in hospice and palliative care, provide essential emotional support and comfort to the society’s clients and their families. The volunteers often forge meaningful bonds with the society’s clients and families.

“In order to be a hospice volunteer, you have to be a special kind of person. And we have 50 of those special kinds of people,” Gordan said.

Tickets for the Celebration of Caring Hands fundraiser are $25 and can be purchased at Divine Ink Esthetic and Barbering in Oliver, at Mills Office Productivity in Osoyoos, the Desert Valley Hospice Society’s office or online at Eventbrite.

MICHELE WEISZ

Osoyoos Times