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Agency News

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Flashlight Egg Hunt to Benefit the Healing Patch

The first annual Flashlight Egg Hunt will be held on Friday, March 31, 2023 at the Altoona Curve – Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona, PA.  The Flashlight Egg Hunt welcomes adults 18 years and older to don a headlamp, grab a bag or strap on a backpack, and scurry to gather as many eggs as possible in the dark. Once the lights are turned back on, participants can open their eggs to reveal candy, or more

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Maria Collins, Vice President, New York Life Foundation, and Healing Patch Coordinator Melody Ray

Healing Patch Receives Grief Reach Grant from the New York Life Foundation

The Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program announced a $20,000 Grief Reach Grant from the New York Life Foundation, administered by the National Alliance for Children’s Grief, to ensure that school communities have information and dedicated bereavement resources to meet the needs of grieving children and their families. The Healing Patch provides in-school peer support groups for students who are not able to attend sessions at the centers in Altoona and Ebensburg. Additionally, the Healing Patch provides student

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Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program Observes Children’s Grief Awareness Month in November, Invites Participation

One in 12 children in Pennsylvania will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18, according to the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (Judi’s House, 2022). While life seems to continue like normal for others, these “forgotten mourners” have had their lives forever changed. Join the Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program in showing support for these grieving children throughout the month of November for Children’s Grief Awareness Month. The Healing Patch invites the

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Lights of Love 2022 Invites You to “Shine a Special Light” for Loved One

The joy of the holiday season can be marked by sadness for those with loved ones who have passed away. Remembering our loved ones and including them in our observances keeps them alive in our hearts and celebrates their legacy that continues to live on. For the twelfth year, the Home Nursing Agency Foundation Lights of Love tribute event invites you to “shine your own special light” for someone you love. Selected trees at the

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Family Hospice Offers Grief Support Options This Fall

Family Hospice, Part of UPMC, is offering free grief support options this fall at the UPMC Home Healthcare/Family Hospice offices throughout West Central Pennsylvania, as well as a virtual option for widows/widowers. For everyone’s safety, all participants are required to wear a mask. There are no exceptions, and social distancing will be implemented. Space is limited. Registration is required by contacting Bereavement Secretary Charlene Ebersole at 814-414-9990 or ebersolec@upmc.edu. Blair Groups will be held at the UPMC Home

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Decades Club Raffle Drawing and Evening of Dancing to Benefit the Healing Patch on Oct. 8

Join us for an evening of prizes and music to benefit grieving children and their families! The Decades Club will be held at the Blair County Convention Center, Altoona on Saturday, October 8. Dance and sing with us through the decades, and dine with us through the cultures with chances to win cash and prizes! The Reverse Raffle drawing will award more than $4,500 in cash prizes as we enjoy food stations from across the world (full menu

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Charlotte & Paul Pletcher with their new mercedes

2022 Mercedes Moment Winner Announced

Charlotte & Paul Pletcher of Osterburg held the winning number – 545 – for Home Nursing Agency Foundation’s Mercedes Moment fundraiser held on May 19.   The winner was announced as part of Mercedes Moment Night at the Altoona Curve after the first Pick 3 Pennsylvania lottery number at 7 p.m. As the winner, the Pletchers were offered the choice of the Mercedes A 220 or $30,000 cash prize.   In the 20th consecutive year, Mercedes Moment raised

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Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program to host Volunteer Open House on April 11

According to the 2020 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM), in Cambria County, one in 12 children will experience the death of a parent by age 18. That equates to 2,220 children. Out of 67 Pennsylvania counties, Cambria County has the second highest rate of children who will lose a parent by age 18. Behind this staggering statistic are real children who are struggling with difficult emotions like loneliness, fear, and anger. At the Healing Patch

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Private Duty Home Care Receives Best of Home Care® – Provider of Choice Award for Tenth Year

Home Nursing Agency Private Duty Home Care announced today that it has received the 2022 Best of Home Care Provider of Choice Award from Home Care Pulse for the tenth consecutive year. The Provider of Choice Award is granted only to the top-ranking home care providers, based on client satisfaction scores gathered by Home Care Pulse, an independent satisfaction research firm for home care. Home Nursing Agency has ranked among these select few home care

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Lights of Love 2024 Invites You to “Shine a Special Light” for Loved One

The joy of the holiday season can be marked by sadness for those with loved ones who have passed away. Remembering our loved ones and including them in our observances keeps them alive in our hearts and celebrates their legacy that continues to live on. For the 14th year, the Home Nursing Agency Foundation Lights of Love tribute event invites you to “shine your own special light” for someone you love. Through LIGHTS OF LOVE, you can honor

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Sheetz Fellows participants Jocelyn Carles and Hollie Keller next to the Curry Building

Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program Observes Children’s Grief Awareness Month in November 2024, Invites Participation

In recognition of Children’s Grief Awareness Month this November, the Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program is coming together with other members of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief to “flip the script” on grief. Throughout the month, we are collectively committed to providing essential tools and resources to foster a more grief-informed society. This initiative seeks to address the common challenges people face when supporting those who are grieving, aiming to replace potentially hurtful statements

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Family Hospice Offers Free Webinar with World-Renowned Grief Expert on Nov. 18

Family Hospice, Part of UPMC, is pleased to offer a live webinar featuring world-renowned author and grief educator, Dr. Alan Wolfelt. Offered in partnership with Stevens Family Funeral Home, this webinar is titled “Tending to Your Broken Heart when Someone Dies: Hope for Your Healing” and will be held on Mon., Nov. 18 from 3-6 p.m. at UPMC Altoona. A virtual option is also available. Dr. Wolfelt has been recognized as one of North America’s

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