St Mary’s, Barbara Dooley set date for tree lighting

We are approaching Christmas parade season in Athens and around the region: we’re one week away from Athens annual Downtown Parade of Lights. Watkinsville’s Christmas parade is set for Sunday afternoon, and St Mary’s Hospital says Barbara Dooley will light its Love Lights Tree in a holiday season ceremony now scheduled for December 10.

From St Mary’s…

St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary and honorary Co-Chair Barbara Dooley invite everyone to the annual lighting of St. Mary’s Love Lights Tree on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m. in the hospital’s atrium lobby, 1230 Baxter St., Athens.

The celebration will include songs by the Saint Joseph Catholic Church Children’s Choir, refreshments, a short presentation and a visit from Santa. Children are invited and photos with Santa will be welcome; bring your camera or smartphone!

Proceeds from the year-long Love Lights campaign will go to support St. Mary’s end-of-life comfort care services.

“Trust me, end-of-life is an important part of our lives,” Dooley says, reflecting on the final days of former UGA Football Coach Vince Dooley, her husband. “So come join us, open your pocketbooks, and we’re going to have a great evening!”

Event co-chair Abby Kennedy notes the many improvements past Love Lights campaigns have made possible, from providing needed medical equipment for multiple departments to upgrading the memory care garden at Highland Hills Village and transforming a 7th floor palliative care suite at St. Mary’s Hospital into a new tranquility suite.

Love Light donations are accepted year-round at donate.stmarysathens.org/lovelights. . Levels start at $25 or you can choose your own amount to give. All donations are tax-deductible and you can give in honor or memory of a loved one.

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