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Decking The Lodge Halls

Tribune photo by SCOTT ISKOWITZ

Gerry Ostroff takes ornaments of the case as she decorates a Christmas tree at Hope Lodge. Members of the American Cancer Society Sword of Hope and volunteers help decorate Hope Lodge at Moffitt Cancer Center Dec. 2 for the holiday season.

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By LENORA LAKE

llake@tampatrib.com

Published: December 10, 2008

USF CAMPUS - Cancer patient Dick Lerch of Leesburg got put to work by his "neighbor" Chadley Weaver of Vero Beach at his temporary home at the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge.

Together they joined 20 volunteers from the society's auxiliary support organization, Sword of Hope, to decorate the four floors of the lodge adjacent to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute for the holiday season. The lodge offers free housing and support for cancer patients undergoing treatment and their caregivers.

"We are living on the same floor, and I just got volunteered. My treatment is in the afternoon, and I had nothing really to do," said Lerch, as he and Weaver strung lights on a Disney-themed tree on Dec. 2.

Each year, the volunteer auxiliary members arrive ready to work, unpacking boxes of artificial trees, ornaments, garland, wreaths and ribbons. Often patients and caregivers join in to help with the project, which usually takes most of a day.

The holiday decorating began several years ago when nationally known decorator Mary Carol Garrity was commissioned by the "Today" show to decorate it on a $1,000 budget. Following a TV segment about the lodge, the decorations were then donated.

The volunteers review pictures and try to re-create the look. But over the years, it is starting to change slightly, said Jo Ranney of Carrollwood, the Hope Lodge liaison for the Sword.

"We re-create as much as possible, but some of the decorations have gotten stale. We are refurbishing and replacing them," said Ranney, who is in her fifth year of coordinating the work, which includes returning in January to take the displays down.

This year there is a new addition, a tree decorated in white angels at the entry. Red and gold bows line the parking lot, and every floor has at least one tree, each with a different color or theme. Garlands are draped along the balconies and mantels.

Sharon Whitehead, director of the lodge, said the decorations help make holidays a little cheerier and the facility more like home for the residents.

"Most have traveled a good distance; they are away from homes and families," Whitehead said.

"It's so pretty when they get done."

Dell Russell of South Tampa and Vivian Felicione of the Egypt Lake area decorated a tree with hand-sized gold ornaments and burgundy bows. "I would hate to be away from home at Christmastime," Russell said.

Some volunteers feel like it is a way of giving back for their recovery from cancer.

Sara Baynes of Carrollwood, a two-time cancer survivor, sorted ornaments and made sure each had a hanger. She brought her niece and her cousin to help.

"This is what I am called to do," Baynes said.

Weaver, who was returning to Vero Beach this week after completing treatment, said it helped him deal with his cancer and the loss of his wife to cancer.

"It feels good in your heart. It lightens you," he said.

Tribune correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851.

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