FOR THE 35TH year, Hospice of San Joaquin will host its Tree of Lights series event starting in Stockton this week.

Tree of Lights allows residents to donate to the health care nonprofit Hospice of San Joaquin in honor of people who made an impact on their lives, or for loved ones who are sick, or someone who has passed away.

The tradition began 35 years ago in Stockton by PG&E worker Mark Rasmussen with some help from his boss at the utility. Rasmussen’s reasons were very personal.

“His wife had passed away with cancer, so he wanted to do something for Hospice of San Joaquin because we had taken care of her,” said Sandy Stoddard, Hospice of San Joaquin’s director of marketing and development.

Rasmussen got permission from San Joaquin Delta College to gather volunteers to put up the very first Tree of Lights.

Jim Brusa and Angela Brusa turn on the ceremonial switch during the Tree of Lights event at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton on Nov. 22, 2022. The annual tradition was started 35 years ago by PG&E worker Mark Rasmussen with support from the utility company. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local)

Now, people throughout San Joaquin County are able to make donations each year and in return receive a colored light or tree topper that is placed on a Christmas tree located in one of eight cities. Additionally, memory boards display the names of loved ones.

Making memories

Dave Ayer’s family, three generations of volunteers from PG&E, created brand-new memory boards this year to celebrate.

Ayer made the tradition’s first memory boards 35 years ago as well. The names are also posted on the Hospice of San Joaquin website.

Donations begin at $5 for a red light and range to $1,000-$1,040 for tree toppers.

The first tree lighting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 21, at San Joaquin Delta College on the corner of Pacific and West Yokuts avenues at 5:30 p.m.

Stoddard said this year their goal for donations is $300,000 since last year they raised $290,000. In 2022, they surpassed their goal by $30,000, she said.

Other cities where tree lightings will take place include Ripon on Nov. 27, Escalon on Nov. 28, Manteca and Lodi on Nov. 30, Rio Vista and Lockeford on Dec. 2, and finishing up in Tracy on Dec. 5.

Jasmine Ferrell wipes away tears during the annual Tree of Lights ceremony at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton on Nov. 22, 2022. Ferrell’s mother and grandmother bought some of the lights on the tree in memory of her father. Such contributions helped Hospice of San Joaquin raise $290,000 last year, and the organization hopes to surpass that total with this year’s series of lighting events. (Harika Maddala/ Bay City News / Catchlight Local)

Stoddard said Stockton is typically the city that has the most lights festooning branches, due to donations and it being the first place that ever hosted the event, thereby having the oldest tradition.

Any donations made go to continuing to help the nonprofit provide charity care and equipment, such as the recent need for a pediatric crib for one of their youngest patients. But they also do something novel — they provide bereavement services.

Stoddard said a new program called Full Circle provides aftercare to families, and her nonprofit is the only hospice that provides that service. Hospice San Joaquin helps people get death certificates, collect Social Security, and “take care of all those things that you need to take care of when someone passes,” she said. All of this is done at no charge, as well.

Anyone wanting to make a donation until the end of the year can do so directly through the organization’s website.

Victoria Franco is a reporter based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. She is a Report for America corps member.

Victoria Franco is a Stockton-based reporter covering the diverse news around the Central Valley as part of the Report for America program. As a Stockton native, Franco is proud to cover stories within her community and report a variety of coverage. She is a San Jose State University alumna with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism. In her collegiate years she was Managing Editor for the Spartan Daily. From her time at the Spartan Daily she helped lead her staff to California College Media Awards and a General Excellence first place. Victoria encourages readers to email her story tips and ideas at victoria.franco@baycitynews.com.