2020 has been an ever-evolving season of change. As we turn our calendars to the holiday season, I believe this will continue to be the case. For many, traditions will be modified or skipped for a year and I find myself with a heavy heart when I think about what is to come. However, it helps me to focus on the things that will never change and to embrace some positive aspects of things that have changed.

A well-loved tradition every November here at Hospice of Anchorage is to partner together with all the hospices in town and put on an event called "Navigating the Holidays", available for free to anyone in this community who wants a little help after having lost a loved one. We do not anticipate being able to gather in person for a large gathering this year, so we have again moved forward in our seasons of change. This year we were able to partner with all the hospices in Anchorage as well as with the Alaska Community Foundation to bring about a new type of event.

This year we are bringing Navigating the Holidays to your home. We have recorded a DVD, also available to stream online, of a program designed to help guide and support you through what could be a difficult time of adjustment after having lost a loved one. The Alaska Community Foundation's generous grant has also allowed us to partner with several local businesses to put together a kit to go along with the program. This kit will include some special touches and gifts to help you in the grieving process.

The Navigating the Holidays Kits will be available for pickup at Hospice of Anchorage starting November 16. Please give us a call at 561-5322 and we will put a box with your name on it in our curbside pickup spot outside for best practice during COVID-19.

As always, Hospice of Anchorage continues to provide free help and support to anyone in the community with any kind of life limiting illness. Please call us at 561-5322 if you or someone you know is in need of our support.

Stay tuned for news next month on a reimagined Remembrance Tree Event for 2020.

Bethany Burgess is the Hospice of Anchorage clinical director.