Health care professionals are invited to Hospice of the Red River Valley’s upcoming virtual Lunch and Learn as we continue to explore topics related to end-of-life care.

The next session will be held Tuesday, Jan. 11, from noon-1 p.m. Katherine Barchenger, children’s hospice program manager with the North Dakota Department of Human Services, will present “Children’s Hospice Services.” In this collaborative session, participants will:

• Gain an understanding of Medicaid Children’s Hospice waiver and concurrent care,
• Learn when and how to access care,
• Learn what are the next steps.

This event is free and open to all health care professionals. Registration is required by Jan. 9 at bit.ly/hrrvlunchlearn. If you have questions, please email lunchlearn@hrrv.org.

Registered attendees will receive a link for the online meeting 24 hours prior to the presentation.

The Naytahwaush Nightriders Snowmobile Club will hold its 18^th annual Hospice Ride Feb. 5-6, 2022. The snowmobile ride is open to the public, and there is no cost to participate. Riders are asked to gather pledges to benefit Hospice of the Red River Valley. Register for the ride by contacting Tom McArthur at (218) 935-5855 or tomimac84@hotmail.com.

The roundtrip ride starts on Saturday at 9 a.m. at Pinehurst Resort in Naytahwaush and travels to Park Rapids for an overnight stay. Pizza will be provided by the club for dinner. Riders will leave for Naytahwaush on Sunday at 10 a.m., stopping in Emmaville, Minn., for lunch.

Throughout the past 17 years, participants have raised more than $140,000 for Hospice of the Red River Valley through the Hospice Ride, which covers a different area each year. The money raised helps provide medical, emotional, spiritual and grief support for Hospice patients and their families in Naytahwaush and the surrounding areas.

“We started the event as a way to remember Naytahwaush Nightriders members who have passed away while also supporting a local organization,” said Tom McArthur, the event’s organizer. “We hope riders from across the region will come out to participate in this fun and meaningful event again this year.”

About the Naytahwaush Nightriders

For more than 40 years, the Naytahwaush Nightriders Snowmobile Club has been working to promote and advance the sport of snowmobiling. The Naytahwaush Nightriders Snowmobile Club works with snowmobilers, resorts, businesses, government units and local land owners to develop, build and maintain a network of snowmobile trails for recreational use. The Naytahwaush Nightriders are proud to be affiliated with MnUSA (Minnesota United Snowmobiling Association).

The seventh annual Tree Walk for Hospice will be held Saturday, Dec. 4, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Eagles Club #2368, located at 305 Red Lake Boulevard in Thief River Falls, Minn.

Join us for an event featuring beautifully decorated trees, food and a variety of activities throughout the day! See the schedule of events below.

All events are free-will donation, except for a silent auction and bake sale. Net proceeds benefit Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Ornaments can be purchased at the event to decorate the Hospice Memorial Tree. Organizations also will have decorated trees. Visitors can vote for their favorite tree by placing money in the buckets at each tree. A plaque is awarded to the winning organization.

A silent auction will be held for all of the trees. Winners can have the tree shrink wrapped and get help with delivery, if needed.

If you are an organization interested in decorating a tree, contact Laurie Harger at 218-686-3696 or laurie.harger@gmail.com to reserve a spot. Pre-lit artificial trees will be provided to decorate as part of the $100 registration. Tree set-up and decorating will be Dec. 2-3 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Schedule of Events
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tree Walk – View decorated trees and vote on your favorite. Trees will be available for purchase through a silent auction. Paper angels can be purchased at the event to decorate the Hospice Memorial Tree.
9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Holiday Bake Sale – Take home some tasty treats. The bake sale runs until the items are gone, so get there early!
10:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. Soup & Breadstick Feed – Free-will donation
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Santa & Mrs. Claus – Bring the kids for a visit! Photos may be taken, and each child will receive a bag of treats provided by the Eagles Aries #2368.
1 p.m. Memorial Ceremony
1:30 p.m. Tree Judging

Health care professionals are invited to Hospice of the Red River Valley’s upcoming virtual Lunch and Learn as we continue to explore topics related to end-of-life care.

The next session will be held Tuesday, Nov. 9, from noon-1 p.m. Jim Sterling, Ph.D., CHC, chief compliance and IT officer with Hospice of the Red River Valley, will present “Resiliency in Healthcare: Supporting Self and Others.” In this collaborative session, participants will learn:

• What is stress and resiliency,
• Why we need it,
• How can we get there,
• Toolkit and Lifevest for caring for ourselves and others.

This event is free and open to all health care professionals. Registration is required by Nov. 7 at bit.ly/hrrvlunchlearn. If you have questions, please email lunchlearn@hrrv.org.

Registered attendees will receive a link for the online meeting 24 hours prior to the presentation.

The sixth annual JJ’s Hog Roast for Hospice was held Aug. 13-14 and raised $15,119 for Hospice of the Red River Valley. The two-day event, which featured music, a car and bike show, and a traditional hog roast meal, was held near Pelican Rapids, Minn.

Throughout the past six years, the event has raised $42,933.50 to help provide hospice care to patients and families in the area.

“We’re so appreciative of Jeff and Cindy for hosting this event in memory of their son, JJ,” said Erin Hagen, development officer with Hospice of the Red River Valley. “We’re honored to be part of this wonderful event that brings the community together.”

Jeffrey “JJ” Bruns, Jr., died in 2015 at 28 years old because of an accidental death. His family wanted to memorialize his name in a special way that reminded them of JJ’s fun-loving personality while supporting a great cause.

Next year’s event is scheduled for Aug. 19-20, 2022.

The community is invited to attend the 31st annual Spaghetti Benefit Dinner on Oct. 4 from 5-7 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, Minn. The church is located at 1300 East Nora St.

A free will offering will be taken, with benefits proceeding Hospice of the Red River Valley.

The event is sponsored by Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Health care professionals are invited to Hospice of the Red River Valley’s upcoming virtual Lunch and Learn as we continue to explore topics related to end-of-life care.

The next session will be held Tuesday, Sept. 14, from noon-1 p.m. Margo Norton, Ph.D., psychologist with the Fargo VA Health Care System, will present “Addressing Moral Injury at End of Life: Strategies for Healing.” In this collaborative session, participants will:

• Understand common conditions and examples of moral injury,
• Be able to articulate the additional negative impacts of moral injury, often combined with traditional PTSD symptoms or profiles, particularly in those nearing end of life,
• Be able to apply basic strategies when it comes to addressing long-standing guilt and shame in those nearing end of life.

This event is free and open to all health care professionals. Pre-registration is required by Sept. 12 at bit.ly/hrrvlunchlearn. If you have questions, please email lunchlearn@hrrv.org.

Registered attendees will receive a link for the online meeting 24 hours prior to the presentation.

Join us for the 6th annual JJ’s Hog Roast for Hospice on Friday, Aug. 13, and Saturday, Aug. 14, along the shores of Pelican Lake at 51943 County Hwy 9, Pelican Rapids, Minn., 56572.

The events include a car and bike show and live entertainment. For a full schedule of events and to register for the car and bike show, visit www.jjshogroast.com.

Jeffrey “JJ” Bruns, Jr., died at 28 in 2015 because of an accidental death. His family wanted to memorialize his name in a special way that reminded them of JJ’s fun-loving personality.

All events are free-will donation with all proceeds benefiting Hospice of the Red River Valley.

The Minnesota Fraternal Order of Eagles and Auxiliary donated more than $12,800 to Hospice of the Red River Valley at its recent annual state convention.

Randy Beggs, Eagles’ state president for 2020-2021 and Crookston resident, selected Hospice of the Red River Valley as the designed charity for a $5,000 donation. He presented the check to Curt Seter, development officer with Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Convention attendees then collected and contributed an additional $7,815. The 2021 State Aerie and Auxiliary Convention was held June 16-19 in Willmar, Minn.

“Hospice of the Red River Valley is so incredibly grateful to the Minnesota Eagles for their support,” Seter said. “The funds raised ensure we will continue to have the resources necessary to provide compassionate end-of-life care to our patients and their families.”

“The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an international nonprofit organization uniting fraternally in the spirit of liberty, truth, justice and equality to make human life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope.

For more information about the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Eagles and Auxiliary, visit mn-eagle.com.