Volunteers at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital are busy making ornaments, checking strings of lights, fluffing wreaths, and preparing for the lighting of the 22nd Annual Love Lights Christmas Tree. The event wraps up the Christmas on the River celebration on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. on the hospital’s lawn.

“We are very excited about this year’s event,” said Rebecca Culpepper, Auxiliary President. “For more than two decades, our group has sponsored this meaningful way for area residents and businesses to recognize their families, friends, and neighbors. Each light and wreath truly represents the Christmas spirit.”

One of the group’s major fundraisers of the year, the Love Lights Tree provides a special way for individuals to recognize a loved one during the holiday season. Proceeds from the event are used each year to help purchase equipment for the hospital, as well as to fund scholarships for area students interesting in pursuing a career in healthcare.

“The Auxiliary does a wonderful job with this event,” said Mike Marshall, CEO/Administrator, “and they are so generous throughout the year whenever their assistance is needed.”

Members of the Auxiliary began selling lights earlier this month. A $3 donation will place a light on the tree in memory or in honor of your special person. Two lights are available for a $5 donation.

The white memory lights and the red honor lights will shine on the tree outside the hospital throughout the holiday season while another tree in the main lobby will display coordinating ornaments featuring the names of the honorees and the donors.

Special ornaments in honor or memory of military personnel are also available. The Love Lights Memory Book will be displayed in the hospital’s main lobby throughout the holiday season and will feature the names of honorees and donors.

“It’s so important that everyone has a chance to see who is being honored,” said Culpepper, adding that everything will be ready in time for the COTR Special Child to flip the switch, lighting the tree atop the building for all to see.

Corporate wreaths are also available to area businesses at a cost of $100 each. These wreaths, featuring the name of each sponsor, are placed in the main halls of the facility throughout the holiday season. Memory and Honor wreaths are also available at the same cost.

Anyone wishing to purchase Love Lights should contact any member of the BWWMH Auxiliary, they may purchase lights in the BWWMH Gift Shop, or they can download and print forms on the Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital facebook page or from their website, www.bwwmh.com.