Two efforts are underway by the Solace Foundation to raise money that will ultimately benefit local residents in need of specialized care.

The foundation is a volunteer effort by staff at Solace Hospice located in Poplarville to ensure that people who are in the gap between regular medical care and hospice care receive the treatment and assistance they need, said Carley Davis with Solace Hospice. That help can be in the form of medicine that people can’t afford, specialized care such as bathing, or a lift or a bed, Davis said.

To ensure there are enough funds to meet those needs two fundraisers are underway.

The first is a raffle for a custom golf cart from Bayou Buggies, Poplarville’s newest golf cart dealer. Davis said the golf cart, valued at about $7,000, sits on large chrome rims and has a camouflage exterior scheme. Tickets for the raffle are $5 each, or five can be purchased for $20. Davis said that 100 percent of the money raised from this raffle will be put to use through the Solace Foundation.

The drawing for the golf cart will be held on Dec. 22, and tickets can be found at Solace Hospice, Bayou Buggies or several other local businesses.

Another fundraiser involved the lighting of a large Christmas tree in the center of the Town Green in Poplarville on Main Street and decorating it with Christmas lights that residents can purchase to honor the memory of a loved one. A light memorial can be purchased at Solace Hospice for $10 up until Christmas. Davis said the memorial entails the person’s name being laminated and tied to the tree with a decorative bow near a light on the tree.

For more information about both fundraisers, call Solace Hospice at 601-403-9822.