Arohanui Hospice’s Trees of Remembrance will be blessed tomorrow Wednesday, 1 December, outside Farmers stores in Palmerston North and Levin.

Arohanui Hospice Chief Executive, Clare Randall, says Farmers department store has teamed up with hospice services across Aotearoa for the 8th year, to help raise funds in support of keeping hospice services free of charge.

“From 19 November until Christmas Eve, everyone who makes a donation to hospice while shopping at Farmers will receive a remembrance card,” says Clare.

“Our tree at Farmers Palmerston North in the Plaza will also be manned by volunteers from Wednesday so people who would like to support us can do so without making a purchase.

“Christmas is generally the time of year when we think of people who won’t be with us during the festive season-they may have died, they may be living overseas or in other parts of the country, or perhaps just can’t be with you at this time of year.

“This card is an opportunity to write a special message for someone you’ll be thinking about this festive season.

This card is an opportunity to write a special message for someone you’ll be thinking about this festive season.

“We are grateful to Farmers as this is a unique collaborative opportunity for us to receive support from our community in the lead up to Christmas. 100% of the donations also remain within the community in which it was given, so donations made in Palmerston North and Levin will support our local Arohanui Hospice,” explains Clare.

“Starting as an empty tree, as the month of December goes on, the Trees of Remembrance become very full of our community’s thoughts and memories of their loved ones with whom they’re unable to spend time this festive season.”

• The Palmerston North Tree of Remembrance will be in the Plaza straight outside the Farmers entrance from 1 December.
  Farmers Home store in Palmerston North also has a Tree of Remembrance, located in the main entrance.
  Levin’s Tree of Remembrance is located just inside Farmers’ main carpark entrance.

Photo credits: David Unwin/Stuff