October 9, 2014

Patched Together 2013 raises nearly $16,000 for Home Nursing Agency's Healing Patch for grieving children.

The planning committee for Patched Together: A Day of Music to Benefit the Healing Patch presented a check for $15,715 raised to support Home Nursing Agency’s program for grieving children and their families. The Third Annual Patched Together event was held in November 2013 with this year’s event set for Nov. 15 at The Bavarian Aid Society in Altoona. 

”The Healing Patch program and Home Nursing Agency are honored and humbled by the generous contribution from Patched Together,” shares Kathy Baker, Home Nursing Agency director of Hospice. “This dedicated group contributes countless hours of talent and work in support of grieving children and families in our community. We thank each of you for your commitment to help in such an extraordinary way.” 

Pictured, from left, are Patched Together planning committee members Jordanna Gerraughty; Nicole Fedeli-Turiano; James Gerraughty; Allison Stockley, Home Nursing Agency Healing Patch manager; Sue LeCrone; Amanda Kutruffs; Rebecca Keefe; Sherry Danella-Hayford; Jim Price; Kent Tonkin and Rebecca Willnecker, Home Nursing Agency Foundation president. The committee included many other members and helpers to bring the event to life.

Started in 2011, Patched Together was created by a passionate group of volunteers who want to ensure grieving children have access to the resources of the Healing Patch: A Program for Loss and Hope for Grieving Children and Their Families. Fueled by the volunteers’ love of music and desire to showcase local talent for a great cause, Patched Together was born. Beyond raising funds for the Healing Patch, Patched Together also raises awareness about the prevalence of children’s grief and the importance of supporting those children and their families. 

The community is invited to attend Patched Together on Nov. 15 at The Bavarian from 2 – 10 p.m. Cover charge is $5 and includes a full day of games, family fun and live music from local artists, including Felix and the Hurricanes, Punk Fiction, Rapid Fire, Jim Donovan and the Sun King Warriors, The Backyard Rockers, Chris Vipond and the Stanley Street Band, Tree, Pure Cane Sugar, Dirtkicker, TMJ, Old Skool and Nobody’s Heroes. 

The Healing Patch provides support services to children and families who have experienced the death of a loved one. Founded in 2006, The Healing Patch is supported by individual and community donations, local grants and fundraisers, and is staffed by volunteers. The services are provided free of charge to grieving children and their families throughout the region from centers in Blair and Cambria counties. The Healing Patch provides a safe place for children to voice their grief and participate in activities with their peers who have suffered similar losses. 

For more information about The Healing Patch, including how to enroll for services or become a volunteer, call Home Nursing Agency at 1-800-445-6262 or visit www.homenursingagency.com. To learn more about the 2014 Patched Together event, visit www.patchedtogether.com or www.facebook.com/patchedtogether.