Blue Ridge Hospice, a community asset that has served many Virginia counties for twenty-seven years, recently opened an office in Middleburg with the help of Reverend Anne Hallmark and the support of Emmanuel Episcopal Church.

Now active in Frederick, Clarke, Loudoun, Fauquier, Shenandoah, Page and Warren, and the City of Winchester, Blue Ridge Hospice has grown immensely from its humble origins as a fledgling organization in downtown Winchester. Today, Blue Ridge Hospice serves 200 individuals a day.

Through community support and the dedication of staff and volunteers, Blue Ridge Hospice continues its outreach to meet the changing needs of individuals facing terminal illness and their families. With five thrift shops in its service area, music therapy and pet therapy, camps for kids, ongoing seminars, workshops, and classes, as well as numerous special events, Blue Ridge Hospice is far from the tiny organization that began in Winchester when two women saw the need for an alternative approach to healthcare for those facing terminal illnesses.

In June, Blue Ridge Hospice made the decision to open another office in the Town of Middleburg. The Blue Ridge Hospice office will allow staff to conduct administrative work, be accessible to the public, and take a larger role in community activities. Through collaboration with Emmanuel Episcopal, its congregation, and other organizations in the community, Blue Ridge Hospice will sponsor educational workshops and programs for the public on issues such as coping with major illnesses, grief and loss. Blue Ridge Hospice staff have already attended meetings of Middleburg Main Street and Middleburg Business and Professional Association.

Blue Ridge Hospice follows the theme of this year's campaign for the National Hospice and Palliative Care organization—Hope, Dignity, Love…It must be Hospice, reminding us that the care Hospice provides brings hope to help people live life as fully as possible, offers dignity when there is not a cure, and surrounds families with love at one of life's most challenging times. Both hospice and palliative care are committed to providing compassion, hope, and dignity.

When visiting the new Middleburg office, Blue Ridge Hospice CEO Ernie Carnevale expressed his sincere gratitude "to the many people of the communities we serve who play vital roles in the ongoing work of our not-for-profit Blue Ridge Hospice."

"We are fortunate to have the 180 dedicated staff members who provide remarkable care to patients and families. Additionally, we are continuously supported in our efforts by more than 300 loyal volunteers whose assistance is invaluable," Carnevale emphasized.

Blue Ridge Hospice welcomes community involvement as volunteers, financial contributors, corporate supporters, or simply as a friend. Additional information about Blue Ridge Hospice is available by calling its offices at 540-536-5210 or visiting the website at www.blueridgehospice.org.