A Message of Hope, Thanks to United Way

Awilda R. and Karen N. selling bouquets at Olean Walmart

(Article submitted by HomeCare & Hospice for our Community Day newspaper)

At HomeCare & Hospice, we often say that hospice isn’t about giving up — it’s about embracing comfort, dignity, and peace in life’s final chapter. Thanks to the support we receive from United Way, we are able to deliver that message of hope to patients and their families across Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. It’s not just about hoping for more time, but about providing something even more meaningful: relief from pain, emotional support, and the deep comfort of knowing they are cared for and never alone.

This hope shows up in ways big and small — sometimes in medication or specialized equipment, and sometimes in the quiet companionship of a nurse holding a hand. And sometimes, it appears in unexpected moments. At one of our recent Hospice Bouquet Pop-Up Sales, a volunteer was working her first event since losing her husband under our hospice care. During her shift, a gentleman purchased three bouquets — two 9-stem and one 18-stem. After paying, he turned and handed one bouquet to each of the volunteers, simply saying, “Thank you.”

With tears in her eyes, the woman later shared, “That was my husband… he told that man to buy those flowers for me.” Whether it was a sign from beyond or just an act of kindness, it felt like a message from heaven — a reminder that love never truly leaves us. That moment was only possible because she felt ready to reconnect, to give back, and to find healing. That readiness came, in part, because United Way helped make her husband’s final days peaceful and supported.

“United Way funding allows us to provide comfort and dignity during one of life’s most difficult times,” said Melissa Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer of HomeCare & Hospice. “The impact of that support reaches far beyond the bedside — it touches families, volunteers, and entire communities.”

To learn more about how HomeCare & Hospice can support your family, we welcome you to call us at 716-372-2106, visit homecare-hospice.org, or email snegron@homecare-hospice.org — we’re here to help, with compassion and care.