Redding Pilot
Redding
Dinnerless Dinner benefits Regional Hospice

May 3, 2008

by Catherine Samose

The fund-raising committee for the Redding branch of Regional Hospice is launching its spring fund-raiser, the Dinnerless Dinner.

“About 15 years ago, those of us on the committee realized people often couldn’t participate in fund-raisers,” said Pat Benedetto, a former chairman of the group. “It was like pulling teeth to get people to come. Everybody was so caught up with their own families and their own goings-on. They’d say, ‘I can’t go, but let me write you a check.’”

So after some brainstorming, the committee came up with the Dinnerless Dinner idea, Ms. Benedetto said.

“Someone on the committee knew Gil Fox and asked him to design the first invitation,” she said.

“He did a new one each year for many years. He lived in Redding and was a cartoonist and an artist as well.”

After Mr. Fox died, Sharon Coates, a committee member and former treasurer, offered to design the invitation each year. “I felt a little uneasy following Gil Fox,” Ms. Coates said. “But I’ve now been drawing the invitations for five years.”
Ms. Benedetto noted Ms. Coates is “very artistic, very creative.”
Committee members send the invitations to people they know, and are always looking for new members.

“We love having new blood on the committee,” Ms. Benedetto said.
“They provide a new group of people to send invitations to. It’s nice to have a variety of different people with different friends and different connections, the younger and the older.”

“Anyone who has not received an invitation but would like to make a donation may send a check to me at 175 Lonetown Rd., Redding, CT 06896,” said Treasurer Lynn Grant. “I’ll send you an invitation.”
Hospice is available to anyone, free of charge, and so depends on donations to stay in existence.

“Hospice is for people who realize they are going to die,” said Redding’s Cynthia Roy Squitieri, executive director of Regional Hospice in Danbury.

“But hospice also has a pre-hospice program called Cares at Home for people who are actively seeking treatment for their illness.”

Funds raised in Redding help Redding residents who need hospice care.
Anyone interested in joining the committee may call Chairman Marie Burroughs at 938-4725.

© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers