Thanks for making Sober Café holiday celebration a success

Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection would like to thank everyone who helped make our Second Annual Holiday Sober Café a big success. We had a tremendous turnout with everyone enjoying the music, food, beverages and friendship.

Thank you to the volunteers who helped in the kitchen, set up the space, and did whatever needed to be done at the moment. A special thank you goes to the Homer United Methodist Church for providing the location, the Spit City Slickers for fabulous live music, Andrew Tomey for his photography, McNeil Canyon Meats for their donation, and Homer Senior Center for the use of tablecloths. Our guest speaker for the event, Tiffany Hall from Recover Alaska, shared a powerful story of recovery along with describing the advocacy she and Recover Alaska tirelessly pursue.

To learn more about KBRC’s upcoming January activities, visit us on Facebook and Instagram, or at kbayrecovery.org.

Jaclyn Rainwater, president

Willy Dunne, vice-president

Barbara McNinch, secretary

Dear Neighbors,

As the new year approaches, I’ve been pondering the best word to encapsulate 2024. That word is… RISE. This year, Hospice of Homer has experienced a RISE in the demand for services, in donations of both valuable volunteer time and financial support, as well as in grant awards from Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and Rasmuson Foundation.

I am also grateful to share that 100+ Women Who Care selected Hospice of Homer as their fourth quarter recipient! These fairy godmothers of Homer, and all the incredible nonprofits represented at the meeting, really drove home the message that together, we rise. (In 2025, be on the lookout for our “Putting Unity in Community” stickers on our new medical equipment in honor of this partnership.)

As another example of the power of unity, our grant-funded Healthy Aging Program empowers neighbors to ‘live well’ through Volunteer Engagement, Lifelong Learning, and Love. While it focuses on neighbors ages 50-plus, this is an intergenerational program, open to all ages, as it is never too early to think about what ‘living well in the second half of life’ means to you.

An important Healthy Aging message we hope to drive home: Volunteering is good for our health! As one volunteer put it, “I get a sense of doing something good for the community…For me, it gives me something to do that is worthwhile and enjoyable.”

Due to the rapidly rising aging population in our service area, we were very intentional this year about diversifying funding sources that will allow us to keep up with rising demand. Grants did indeed help, however, it is your generosity that truly makes it possible for us to put compassion in action and live the message — together, we rise.

On behalf of the entire Hospice of Homer Team — volunteers, board, and staff — we wish you all a very warm and peaceful holiday season.

Holly Dramis, Executive Director

Hospice of Homer