The VNA's Annual Holiday House Tour

The Visiting Nurses Association of Central Jersey held their 38th Annual Holiday House Tour to raise money for the hospice program.With the help of over 200 volunteers, the VNA Holiday House Tour has become a holiday tradition.

The VNA of Central Jersey Hospice Program provides a team of dedicated health professionals, counselors, and volunteers to provide comprehensive end-of-life care for patients and families. The Annual Holiday House Tour provides much needed monies that allow the VNA to provide patients and their families with comfort, hope, support and compassion.

New and veteran volunteers alike enjoy this community event.  A veteran volunteer, Beverly Beveridge of Eatontown, marked her 22nd year of volunteering for the event.

"Working with the professionals of the VNA, the dedicated volunteers who donate their precious time, individuals who donate beautiful flowers, and the people who open up their homes to so many people, has truly been an honor and joy of mine throughout these years," Beveridge said.   

The tour, which was held on Dec. 3, 2010, marks an annual event that combines community involvement with the festiveness of the season. Every year, Rumson  and surrounding town residents open up their homes. 

Featured homes are decorated in holiday motifs by local interior designers and floral shops. Members of the community are invited to walk inside each of the featured houses and view the decorations after purchasing $50 tickets. Once inside, ticketholders are invited to walk around the decorated house while volunteers on hand answer questions about its design and architecture.  

One of the featured holiday houses belonged to Rumson's Stephen Gallagher and his wife, Elke. Their beautiful home represents the seashore at its best.

Suzette Donleavy of Well-Designed Interiors in Rumson provided Mrs. Gallagher with help in finding perfect objects to complete her home. One of the most charming features of the Gallagher house is the pergola-shaded deck off the living room, providing the perfect gathering place for friends and family in the summertime.

Local contributors to the Gallagher home include Shutters Cottage Décor of Fair Haven, Frame to Please of Red Bank, and Sickles Market of Little Silver.

Attendees of the tour were also invited to visit the holiday gift boutique held at the Navesink Country Club. The holiday gift boutique provided shoppers with a collection of holiday gifts, plants, and accessories. Also held at the Navesink Country Club, was the Holiday House Tour Luncheon, where tour attendees could stop in with a prepaid reservation to enjoy holiday dishes.

For more information on the VNA visit www.vnacj.org