Town of Mooresville, City of Statesville issue proclamations for Hospice & Palliative Care Month and Children’s Grief Awareness Day

Posted on by Mike Fuhrman
Pictured (from left) are Mooresville Commissioner Lisa Qualls, HPCIC President & CEO Mike Smith, HPCIC Chief Clinical Officer Dana Bell, Rainbow Kidz Senior Grief Counselor Meredith Fleming, and Rainbow Kidz Grief Counselor Michele Smith.

Special to IFN

The Town of Mooresville and City of Statesville recently proclaimed November as Hospice & Palliative Care Month, and November 20th as Children’s Grief Awareness Day. This marks the first time that Children’s Grief Awareness Day has been formally recognized in Iredell County.

The Town of Mooresville made its proclamations on November 3 during a Town Board meeting. Town of Mooresville Commissioner Lisa Qualls was joined by representatives of Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County (HPCIC) as she read the proclamations.

The City of Statesville issued its proclamations on November 17 during a City Council meeting — an event that also marked Mayor Costi Kutteh’s final proclamation as mayor of Statesville. Kutteh was joined by HPCIC representatives as he read the proclamations.

“Hospice and Palliative Care Month is a time to honor the heart of what we do—helping patients and families find comfort, peace, and dignity at life’s most tender moments,” said Mike Smith, HPCIC president and CEO. “Hospice is not about giving up; it’s about embracing life, even in its final chapter. Our dedicated team provides compassionate care, emotional support, and guidance to ensure no one walks this journey alone. Together, we affirm that every moment matters, and every life has meaning, reminding our community that hospice is truly about living fully until the very end.”

As a community-based nonprofit, HPCIC provides high-quality hospice and palliative care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay, ensuring that every person receives compassion, comfort, dignity, and support at end of life.

Children’s Grief Awareness Day holds special significance for HPCIC, whose Rainbow Kidz program provides free grief support services to children and families throughout Iredell County.

“The Rainbow Kidz program believes every grieving child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported,” said Leigh Ann Darty, director of the Rainbow Kidz children’s grief program. “This November, during Children’s Grief Awareness Day, we honor the courage of young hearts learning to live with loss. We reaffirm our commitment to walk beside them with hope and compassion and remind them they are never alone.”

Pictured (from) are HPCIC Marketing Coordinator Kati Saunders, Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh, HPCIC Chief Administrative Officer Charles Ashe, Rainbow Kidz Director Leigh Ann Darty, Rainbow Kidz Grief Counselor Maria Ramon, and HPCIC Administrative Office Coordinator Nicole Wise.

LEARN MORE

For questions about hospice care, palliative care, or the Rainbow Kidz children’s grief program, contact Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County at 704-873-4719 or at HOIC.org.

Leave a Reply