December 16, 2025 (Jacksonville, Fl.) – Community PēdsCare®, a pediatric palliative and hospice program of Community Hospice & Palliative Care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, recently hosted its Candy Cane Christmas holiday celebration for patients and their families at Diamond D Ranch in West Jacksonville.
The ranch was transformed into a festive, outdoor winter wonderland, complete with twinkling lights, holiday hayrides, tents filled with “treasures,” holiday treats, games, and a sing-along and campfire. Children and their siblings collected goodies and holiday gifts donated by community partners and supporters and families also enjoyed photos with Santa.
“Candy Cane Christmas gives our families a night where they can step away from appointments and treatments, while simply enjoy being together,” said Patrice Austin, Director of Community PēdsCare®.” Our intension is for them to experience holiday spirit, create new memories and find a special sparkle of joy for the season”.
Community PēdsCare® is a nationally recognized pediatric palliative and hospice program of Community Hospice & Palliative Care that supports children with complex, chronic, and life-limiting conditions and their families throughout Northeast and North Central Florida. The program provides specialized medical care, pain and symptom management, counseling, spiritual support, and respite for caregivers in homes, hospitals, and community settings.
Community Hospice & Palliative Care is a locally based, not-for-profit organization that has provided compassionate end-of-life and palliative care to patients and families in Northeast and North Central Florida for more than 40 years.
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About Community Hospice & Palliative Care
Established in 1979, Community Hospice & Palliative Care is an innovative national leader in palliative and hospice care, as well as providing programs and services to meet the diverse needs of the communities it serves. During its 46-year history, through the support of more than
1,000 employees and 1,000 volunteers, the organization helps approximately 1,500 patients per day to live better with advanced illness – at home, in long-term care and assisted living facilities, in hospitals and at its 10 inpatient care centers. No one is ever denied care due to an inability to pay. To learn more about the support and services of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, visit CommunityHospice.com
About Community PēdsCare®Since 2000, Community Hospice & Palliative Care has provided palliative and hospice care and support for children living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions through Community PēdsCare®, an award-winning pediatric care program in collaboration with Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, and the University of Florida-Jacksonville. The program, one of only a few community pediatric programs in the United States offering both palliative and hospice care, provides clinical, social service, spiritual, child life, medical and volunteer support to improve quality of life for children from prenatal to age 21. To learn more about the support and services of Community PēdsCare®, visit CommunityPedsCare.com.