Courtesy Hospice of Santa Barbara

Looking for a special way to honor a loved one this holiday season? Hospice of Santa Barbara—an organization that “volunteers” its free professional counseling and care management services to more than 700 children and adults every month who are experiencing the impact of a life-threatening illness, or grieving the death of a loved one—recently hosted its 30th annual holiday Light Up A Life celebrations in Goleta and Santa Barbara and its 20th anniversary celebration in Carpinteria, inviting families and friends to gather to celebrate the lives and memories of their loved ones. Hundreds of lights and stars illuminate memorial trees at each site through the month of December.

Light Up A Life memorial stars will continue to be sold throughout December at the following locations:

Anna’s Bakery in Camino Real Marketplace (7018 Marketplace Dr., Goleta)

Lovebird Boutique & Jewelry Bar (7 E. De La Guerra St., next door to Casa De La Guerra)

Curious Cup Bookstore (929 Linden Ave., Carpinteria)

Peebee & Jay’s (1007 Casitas Pass Rd., Carpinteria)

Montecito Bank & Trust (1023 Casitas Pass Road, Carpinteria)

Hospice of Santa Barbara office (2050 Alameda Padre Serra, Suite 100) and at hospiceofsantabarbara.org or by calling 805/563-8820.

A $15 or more donation is suggested for each star, and all proceeds support Hospice of Santa Barbara. Stars may be hung on Light Up A Life trees located at:

Camino Real Marketplace, Goleta (on the corner plaza between Pier One and Hollister Brewing Company)

Casa de la Guerra, Santa Barbara

The Seal Fountain at Linden Plaza, Carpinteria

–Leslie Dinaberg

Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on December 22, 2013