HUTCHINSON – The 21st annual Festival of Remembrance, a yearly fundraising auction to benefit Hospice and HomeCare of Reno County, has been scheduled for 6 p.m., Friday, Aug. 19, at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson. 

This one night of fun includes silent and live auctions, raffle drawings for big ticket items and even a car giveaway. This marks the 11th year that Mel Hambelton Ford has donated a vehicle for this premier fundraising event. The vehicle this year is a 2019 Ford Fusion Titanium. 

Raffle tickets for the items and car are available for pre-sale purchase online and are available in person on the night of the event.

Sarah Diamond, fundraising and volunteer coordinator for Hospice and Homecare of Reno County, said the auction is the organization’s largest fundraiser each year, and proceeds are earmarked for hospice services provided by the not-for-profit agency. Hospice and HomeCare serves a 50-mile radius and serves patients in their homes, care facilities, and at the Hospice House.

“A number of the participants have attended most, if not all, of the previous 20 Festivals of Remembrance,” Diamond said. “The Hutchinson community has been very generous in their support of the Festival of Remembrance and we can never thank them enough for their continued support.” 

Diamond said a portion of the funds raised at this year’s event will be allocated for the purchase of new bedside tables and armoires for the rooms at the Hospice House. This will replace the existing furniture which is over 15 years old.  

Ken Johnson, president and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said “There is no better example of Hutchinson’s benevolence than the Festival of Remembrance. No family is exempt in dealing with end of life issues, often on multiple occasions during one’s lifetime. Hospice and HomeCare of Reno County is a 41-year old success story that ranks among the best in the state in providing care and consultation for community members dealing with terminal illness.” 

More information on the 21st Annual Festival of Remembrance can be found at hutchregional.com/hospice-homecare-of-reno-county.