Art Show Weekend Benefits Hospice of Santa Cruz County
A local shoe store is partnering with our community’s hospice organization this First Friday, bringing together art and compassionate care through “Walking in Compassion.”
The Sockshop & Shoe Company in downtown Santa Cruz will host a weekend fundraiser for Hospice of Santa Cruz County, which begins on November 1, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event features art, wine, cheese, ice cream and music by Wooster, a local band that combines reggae, rock, and hip-hop.
“Walking in Compassion” pairs the store’s array of unique, high-quality, lifestyle footwear with the daily work of the Hospice of Santa Cruz County’s patient care teams. A series of photographs depicting the shoes of hospice workers and volunteers who provide compassionate medical, emotional, spiritual and practical support to seriously ill patients and their families will be displayed throughout the store. The Sockshop & Shoe Company will donate nine percent of the sales from Friday through Sunday November 3, to Hospice of Santa Cruz County. In addition, there will be raffle prizes of shoes from Dansco, Keen, Merrel and Ugg for customers who wish to donate to the local non-profit.
Eric and Ellen Gil, owners of Sockshop & Shoe Company, are delighted to host this event for the second year. According to Ellen, “Hospice of Santa Cruz County is a great organization. We are fortunate in Santa Cruz to have these services available when they will be needed for ourselves or our family members.”
“Many of the people who attended last year’s event commented on the excellent music, art, and opportunity to help support hospice programs by purchasing items at the store,” said Michael Milward, Chief Executive Officer. “We’re so fortunate to partner with such generous folks like Eric, Ellen and everyone at the Sockshop & Shoe Company,” he added. The event raises funds for Hospice of Santa Cruz County’s community programs including grief support services, transitional care services, children’s bereavement programs, education and outreach, and hospice care for military veterans. These programs are entirely funded by community members and local foundations.
“November is also National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. Kicking off the month with this event offers an excellent opportunity for our community to learn about how hospice makes a difference for individuals and families in our community,” said Milward.
Hospice of Santa Cruz County is the oldest and only non-profit hospice serving Santa Cruz and northern Monterey counties. Since 1978, the care that HSCC has provided helps patients live more fully at the end of life while providing emotional and spiritual support for the entire family.