Friends Of Hospice

SINCE 1986

Friends of Hospice has carried out its mission to raise funds for Talbot Hospice  by sponsoring the annual Festival of Trees. This event continues be immensely successful and is made possible through the work of hundreds of volunteers. The Festival annually assists with Hospice's operating budget which benefits terminally ill people living in Talbot County.

The Friends of Hospice has donated over 2.8 million dollars to the Talbot Hospice Foundation all generated from the Annual Festival of Trees event.

TALBOT HOSPICE

As the premier resource in Talbot County for people facing end-of-life illness, loss and grief, the Talbot Hospice offers hope, compassionate support and services to all members of our community. Our programs include Pathways; a pre-hospice plan, accommodations in the residential Hospice House Guest Wing, bereavement and spirituality counseling, the loan of medical equipment and supplies, community education and professionally trained volunteers and doulas. Talbot Hospice recognizes dying as a part of the normal process of living and focuses on maintaining the quality of remaining life. Services are offered to individuals, caregivers, families and friends.

VOLUNTEER

The Festival of Trees draws not only hundreds of guests, but as well hundreds of volunteers. Dedicated and passionate, they decorate trees, sell tickets, man the doors, give directions, call bingo and generally spread the spirit of the season. Without these wonderful helpers, the many events would not be possible.

Email us to find out on how you can become part of the Festival of Trees volunteer corps

FESTIVAL'S ORIGINS

The Festival of Trees is 34! The history of the Festival of Trees is rich with love and commitment to Talbot Hospice , a caring organization offering end of life care to our areas residents.

One of the early patients on hospice care was Mrs. Robert Fuller.  Leslie Ware, her friend and neighbor, and Midge Fuller, her daughter-in-law, were working with the hospice program as volunteers.

Leslie had seen an article in “Southern Living” magazine about a festival of trees in Atlanta, Georgia.  After Virginia Fuller died in November, 1984, Leslie and Midge found a tree festival in Wilmington, North Carolina that raised funds for a local hospice.  After visiting the Wilmington Festival of Trees, Leslie and Midge presented the idea of creating the Festival of Trees fundraiser for Talbot Hospice.

The idea was welcomed with open arms and Leslie and Midge spent the next twelve months organizing committees, ordering supplies, speaking to local groups about hospice and recruiting local businesses and friends to support and participate.  The result…in November 1986 a beautiful new area tradition began…The Festival of Trees