Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard

Community Updates

February 2026

Spread Love: A Community Art Project Giving Back to Hospice

Martha’s Vineyard artist M-C Lamarre has launched Spread Love, a participatory art project benefiting Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard (HPCMV). Inspired by Valentine’s Day and collective grief, Lamarre invited community members to decorate baseball-card-sized blanks with drawings and love notes.

The cards will be sold at art vending machines placed around the Island, with proceeds donated to HPCMV. The Spread Love initiative grew out of Lamarre’s recent project, MV Potluck Prints, which began as a way to honor her father and brother, who both passed away in 2024. Lamarre is open about her experience receiving grief counseling at HPCMV, which helped her process her losses and led her to start channeling her grief into art.

“Those 13 months of grief counseling were a really great resource for me,” Lamarre said. “I wanted to do something to give back in the way that I could, and include the community – prints by them and for them. Everybody can use a little love!”

Learn more about Lamarre’s project and how to get involved.

Read Full Article Here

Black History Month: An Invitation to Reflect on Trust, Equity, and Accessibility in End-of-Life Care

During Black History Month this February, we pause to reflect on the importance of trust, equity, and access in end-of-life care. For many Black individuals and families, historical and ongoing inequities in the healthcare system have shaped how medical care — including hospice and palliative care — is experienced and understood.

Hospice care is rooted in listening, respect, and informed choice. This month, we reaffirm our commitment to providing compassionate, culturally responsive care for every patient and family we serve, regardless of their ethnic or cultural background. Honoring Black history means not only remembering the past, but continuing to learn, listen, and work toward equitable, person-centered care for all.

Check out this informative guide from The Center to Advance Palliative Care on Advancing Equity for Black Patients with Serious Illness

HPCMV Opens Doors to Second Counseling Office

Beginning in January, our grief counseling team began seeing clients at an office space at Tisbury Marketplace on Beach Road for children’s counseling, as well as adult and group sessions for up to 10 people. The team will also continue to meet clients at our main office at Woodland Center.

Having a second space allows for ease of scheduling and provides a therapeutic environment designed especially for children, featuring interactive games, toys, crafts, etc.

Caring Conversations: What To Know About Hospice Care

Hospice care is for people in our community facing a serious illness. Hospice focuses on allowing you to enjoy more moments of life by supporting patients and their families to help ease pain, manage symptoms, coordinate resources, and offeremotional and spiritual support.

Why You May Consider Calling Hospice

Treatments are no longer helping and the focus of care is shifting to comfort
Pain, shortness of breath, or other symptoms are becoming hard to manage
There are frequent hospital or ER visits
Daily activities like eating, walking, or bathing are becoming more difficult
Weight loss, weakness, or sleeping most of the day is increasing
Caregivers feel overwhelmed or unsure what to do next
You want to discuss what matters most to you and make a plan for your care
You need support in having difficult conversations with your family
Your goal is to focus on comfort, peace, and dignity

If you’re unsure whether it’s time — that’s okay. Many people tell us they wish they had called earlier. We’re here to answer questions without pressure. Call us today at 508-693-0189. Our expert Islant team will be there when you nees support.

HPCMV 2026 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Friday, Feb 6 – Sweets By The Sea

Wed., Mar. 18 – Annual Meeting

Tue., Mar. 24 – Road Race Registration Opens

Wed., Apr. 1 – Soirée Sponsorships On Sale

TBD, May – Seedlings By The Sea

Friday., May 15 – Soirée General Admission Tickets On Sale

Sun., May 24 – 32nd Annual Memorial Road Race

Mon., Aug. 3 – Summer Soirée

Sun., Sept. 13 – 16th Annual Bud Lamoreaux Memorial Golf Tournament

Sun., Sept. 27 – 3rd Annual Camp By The Sea

Sat., Dec. 12 – Handmade From The Heart

Reminder: Fri., Feb. 6

Sweets By The Sea

3:30pm to 5pm

Chilmark Community Center,

520 S Road, Chilmark, MA

Join us for a fun afternoon of sweet treats, creativity, and connection for kids in grades K-8! There will be supervised candy-making, chocolate covered strawberries, and Valentines crafts! Free and open to all kids in grades K-8. Parent drop-off encouraged. RSVP not required, just drop in! For more info, call (508) 693-0189 or email: campbythesea@hospiceofmv.org.

February 21 Is National Caregivers Day!

National Caregivers Day, also known as ‘Thank A Caregiver Day,’ is celebrated each February and is a time to recognize and honor caregivers across the country.

We are so grateful for the many family members and friends serving as caregivers to our hospice and palliative patients. We aim to support and uplift these generous and loving carers who dedicate themselves to providing support, assistance, and compassion to others, often in challenging circumstances.

Your Reusable Bag Purchase At Edgartown Stop & Shop This Month Supports HPCMV

This February, every reusable $2.50 Community Bag sold at the Edgartown Stop & Shop location at 225 Upper Main Street will send $1 to Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard.

Thank you to Stop & Shop for supporting our organization!

Careers at HPCMV

RN Case Manager: Full-time, part-time, per-diem, and on call.

Required experience in post-acute care nursing with an emphasis on quality of life and education. Must be an RN in Massachusetts. Must have strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills as an interdisciplinary team member. Must be able to develop and follow a care plan that establishes goals to meet both the individual and family needs while incorporating palliative nursing skills.

Director of Development & Communications: Full-time

The Director of Development and Communications is responsible for driving all donor engagement, fundraising and marketing efforts to advance the organization’s mission and visibility. With a strong focus on cultivating and stewarding relationships, the Director develops and implements a comprehensive development plan that includes annual giving, major gifts, establishing a planned giving program, and leads all fundraising events. Read more.

APPLY ONLINE

No person shall be excluded or discriminated against on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. EOE. Please email your resume and cover letter to mdevaney @ hospiceofmv.org or visit https://hospiceofmv.org/careers/ for more information and to apply.

Leave Your Legacy at HPCMV with PLANNED GIVING

Planned Giving, establishing a bequest, annuity, or life income gift, creates a legacy of supportive care for our island community. People like you have helped build a foundation to support our mission for 45 years. Please join us in enabling individualized, compassionate, end-of-life care for island patients and their families. If you would like to learn more, we can guide you in finding information about planned giving opportunities and the benefits they provide. Please contact 508-693-0189 or email fundraising@hospiceofmv.org.

“When I was updating my will earlier this year, I thought about remembering my family, of course, but I also thought about an island organization that I believe matters greatly, and I wished to support it as well. I chose Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard to honor the work they do and to enable this important work to continue in the future.” -Diane Nicholls, Board Director at HPCMV

Make an Impact: Volunteer at HPCMV

We are always recruiting patient care and administrative volunteers, as well as fundraising volunteers, including people to join the planning committees for our 2026 fundraising events. We’re looking for people to:

Volunteer at events
Solicit auction items
Be a subcommittee leader

If you are interested in volunteering for events, please email

fundraising@hospiceofmv.org.

If you are interested in patient care or administrative volunteering, please email jangell@hospiceofmv.org

Email Us

Your Donation Makes a Difference

Thanks to your generous support, Hospice and Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard (HPCMV) is able to continue providing expert level care for patients and their caregivers in need of hospice, palliative, and bereavement services in our community.

We are currently fundraising for our 2025 Annual Appeal!

Your gift helps us reach our fundraising goal!

Every dollar counts! We thank you for your support.

Donate Now