Monday evening’s rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the volunteers, businesses and guests who showed out to support Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard at their annual Hospice Soiree. Supporters filled the tents at Farm Neck Golf Club, mingling, sharing stories and bidding on items and packages for the fundraiser’s silent auction.
Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard was started in 1981 by a group of volunteers and ever since has provided quality, dignified end-of-life care for Islanders. This year, the organization is celebrating its 45th anniversary as well as nearly 30 years of the Hospice Soiree.
As Meghan Saggese, the organization’s new development and events coordinator, took in the scene at her very first soiree, she said she was already feeling the love.
“The time and energy that goes into it that’s all in support of our organization is like nowhere else,” she said. “It’s incredible.”
Chantel Patterson was returning for her 10th soiree, but her first as executive director. Looking back on her initial impressions of the fundraiser, Ms. Patterson said the unwavering support of the community is one thing that has remained unchanged through the years.
“I came here as a guest for the first time,” she recalled. “I looked around the room and I said, I want to be a part of this. The love and the support and the energy — I just knew it was something special.”
This year’s soiree included 48 sponsors and over 100 volunteers, including Edgartown Stop & Shop manager Mary McEvoy. For her, supporting local hospice care is the responsibility of everyone.
“Caring about people when they’re born and caring about people when they die — we all do those both, so I think it’s a wonderful cause,” she said.
The evening’s guest speaker Barbara Rush shared a similar sentiment. Her father, Robert Huss, entered hospice in 2022 after being diagnosed with end-stage prostate cancer and died in November of that year. Though nothing could lighten the loss of her father, Ms. Rush said she was grateful that he had a “good death.”
“We’re all going to die,” she said. “Hospice really is instrumental in letting people die with dignity and die on their own time.”
Ms. Rush, an oncology nurse practitioner at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, said taking her father’s care out of her own hands left room for more important things.
“You can be a daughter, or you can be an oncology nurse practitioner, but you can’t be both,” she said. “Hospice allowed me the grace to be his daughter.”
“Certainly you can’t ask for a better group,” added Ms. Rush’s mother, Elizabeth Huss.
Soiree attendees were shown a video about the importance of reaching out to hospice as early as possible when a loved one begins to decline. The most energetic part of the evening began after dinner, when guests raised their bidding cards to make donations or bid in the live auction. Each time a white card popped into the air, cheers filled the tent.
Ms. Patterson expressed gratitude for their support, crediting everyone for Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard’s continued presence on the Island. This year, she said, they were able to care for 92 people and offer bereavement support to 107 adults and 40 children.
For the organization to continue providing care, added Ms. Patterson, the community will have to stand by them, time and time again.
“If we want this care to continue to be here for our neighbors, for our loved ones, and perhaps even one day for ourselves, we have to invest in it together,” she said.
Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard is still taking bids for its online auction. The auction ends Friday, August 7. Visit hospiceofmv.org.
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