Dance away the night – and the heat – in benefit party for Pine Point Hospice
Pack your favorite picnic foods and dance the hot summer night away in the cool comfort of air conditioning, at Saturday’s Summer’s Night Picnic and Dance. This fundraiser at the City Auditorium benefits Pine Pointe Hospice, Navicent Health, which provides hospice and palliative care to about 700 patients each year.
The Grapevine Band will be providing live music, beginning at 7:30 p.m., and attendees are invited to relax with picnic baskets brought from home, complete with beverages of their choice. After the food is consumed, everyone can dance the night away.
“Everyone dresses in nice, cool summer’s attire to celebrate the end of summer being in sight,” said Cindy Hill, director of Pine Pointe Hospice. “(Floor tables) are sold out, but there is balcony seating. ... People can sit up there to listen to the music and watch the dancing. There are some very accomplished dancers who will be there. USA Dance has always been a big supporter and they show up and show out, which is great. It is so fun to watch accomplished dancers do their thing.”
In its third year, Hill said it’s a “great time for folks to come together and eat and dance. It’s good fellowship and fun dancing to the great oldies and the best beach music. The Grapevine is a fantastic band to dance to.”
Beneficiary Pine Point Hospice is a local facility and the oldest hospice service in the Middle Georgia area.
“We are the only nonprofit hospice in the area. We serve all patients regardless of payer source. Many of the funds we raise at these events go directly to our patients,” Hill said. “We go into patientss homes to help them with nearly anything that they need. We pay utilities and water bills, pest control, air conditioning. Many times, at the end of life, the patient and families have spent so much money on health care that they are strapped and pretty desperate for some help. We do what we can to ease things for them during a very difficult part of their lives.”
Pine Pointe Hospice also serves pediatric patients.
“We will use funds for sitters to help the family and try to ease the unbelievably difficult situation for everyone involved. It can be exhausting, and this is an extremely beneficial service, which is paid through donated funds. We are supported philanthropically and a lot of different people support us,” she said.
At Saturday’s event, there will be a diverse crowd “out to have a good time and support a good cause. We’ve expanded this year to 80 tables, up from 54 last year. There will be a lot of decorations and some door prizes and just a lot of fun,” Hill said. “Don’t worry, we have a large dance floor and plenty of room.”
<b>Summer’s Night Picnic and Dance</b>
When: 6:30 p.m. doors open, 7:30 p.m. band begins, Aug. 15
Where: City Auditorium, 415 First St.
Cost: $35 balcony seats
Information: www.navicenthealth.org/snpd; 478-633-4483
This story was originally published August 13, 2015 at 3:14 PM with the headline "Dance away the night – and the heat – in benefit party for Pine Point Hospice ."