The annual “Sweethearts for Hospice” fundraiser is back just before Valentine’s Day to support the Lisaard and Innisfree Hospice in Kitchener.

The community is being invited to buy a box of treats from local businesses for $25, and all money raised will go to hospice programs like Art from the Heart and bereavement support. For the past three years, the fundraiser has been selling out**, so** the organizers intend to make more boxes this year to meet growing demand.

Sarah Ainsworth, the fund development coordinator for Lisaard and Innisfree Hospice**,** has invited students from local high schools to participate in the program and help get the community more involved. The students will be able to earn volunteer hours by helping assemble the Sweethearts for Hospice goodie boxes.

Sweethearts for Hospice started during COVID as a way to help raise funds**, as donations declined**. Over the years, the initiative has raised over $15,000 for the hospice’s programs. Most of those programs are free for residents.

The money raised from the Sweethearts for Hospice fundraiser helps fund programs like Art from the Heart and bereavement support, which don’t receive government funding. These programs help families grieving the loss of a loved one. Ainsworth said the fundraiser shows how the community cares and supports one another, allowing the hospice to continue its important work. Goodie boxes can be picked up on February 10 at the hospice locations in Kitchener or Cambridge. You can also purchase a Sweethearts for Hospice goodies box through their website.

Source: Justine Fraser, CityNews