LIGHT THE NIGHT. HSHS hospitals are hosting their annual Love Light fundraiser, which honors loved ones in the holiday season. (Photos via Facebook)

The holiday season is the time to hold your loved ones close, but sometimes we aren’t able to do so. Whether you’ve recently lost someone close to you, someone you love was deployed in the military, or they just can’t be around this holiday season, HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital (900 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire) and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital (2661 Hwy. I, Chippewa Falls) are hosting a Love Lights ceremony to honor them.

Love Lights are $10 each with corresponding colors for each absent loved one. White lights are for deceased adults, blue lights are for a deceased child, red and green lights are for a living relative or friend, gold lights are for living or deceased veterans or active military members, and purple represents a living or deceased pet.

Purchased Love Lights will be glowing on display from the trees at the front entrances of the hospitals throughout the holiday season. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on Dec. 5 at 5pm at Sacred Heart Hospital and on Dec. 7 at 4:30pm at St. Joseph’s Hospital. This is Sacred Heart’s 38th year holding this event and St. Joseph’s 36th year.

From now until Friday, Nov. 10, any Love Lights purchased will list the name of the person the light is dedicated to on a special tribute the hospitals will put together. The tributes can be picked up from the hospitals after Dec. 1.

Sales from the Love Lights will support the hospitals and the Volunteer Partners scholarship funds, as well as school and community events.

Love Lights can be purchased by calling (715) 717-7439 or by visiting hshs.org/sacred-heart or hshs.org/st-josephs-chippewa-falls online.