On Friday, 25 ladies, who all wore beautifully decorated red hats, gathered for punch, cookies, and a bit of interesting conversation.

No, this was not a gathering of a local chapter of the Red Hat Society, this was Tea Time at the Manor, with the Ladies in Red.

Warren Manor Nursing Home residents experience activities such as Tea Time, Story Time, Coloring Time, and Pet Therapy on a regular basis.

“We are trying to come up with stuff to stimulate the patients in the nursing homes,” said Betty Hale, Volunteer Coordinator for Wiregrass Hospice.

Wiregrass Hospice provides care for terminally ill patients in Dallas County and fifteen other surrounding counties.

Although this was the first time that they had the tea party, Hale intends to expand the tea parties to other area nursing homes and “alternate the activities to keep them guessing.”

The tea parties will be held at 2:30 p.m. on the second Friday of every month.

“I came up with the idea for the tea party because I wanted to get the volunteers more involved in the nursing home,” said Hale.

“Some people are uncomfortable with going into nursing homes because they are afraid of what they might see.

Maybe this will lead to them volunteering more at the nursing homes and the Hospice.”

The majority of the red hats that adorned the ladies’ heads were donated.

The rest were purchased at Wal-Mart. “I believe we bought every red hat that Wal-Mart had!,” said Hale.

The hats that were donated were done so in honor of, or in memory of a loved one who has passed.

“Later on today, we will put a tag in the hats that say in whose memory they were donated for,” said Hale.

“If you would like to donate a red hat in memory of, or in honor of someone, or if you would like to volunteer at the Hospice to help with these activities, call me at the office,” said Hale.

To contact Hale, please call (334) 875-2120.