High School Senior is a Hero for Hope for Hospice Patients
Shelby Valley High School senior Mahala Honaker discovered the hope found in hospice care through her involvement with Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). After attending a presentation at her high school with the Pikeville Volunteer and Community Liaison, Mahala and her peers recognized an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of hospice services in their community and felt a strong calling to care for those in need.
“When people hear about hospice, they often think of death,” Mahala said. “But there’s so much more—comfort, peace, and support for families.”
As part of her FCCLA chapter’s community service project, titled Heroes for Hope, Mahala surveyed the community to find out what item would bring the most comfort. The overwhelming response was blankets. Mahala led her group in creating more than 50 fleece, tie blankets for BCN hospice patients. One particularly touching moment came when a blanket was given as a 99th birthday gift. The recipient couldn’t believe such a thoughtful item came from local high school students.
The project resonated even more deeply with Mahala after her own grandmother entered hospice care during the FCCLA competition season. She realized firsthand how meaningful hospice services are and how the care that the hospice team provides eases not only a patient’s suffering but also the emotional burden on families.
“It means a lot not just for me but for the people in my community,” she said. “I hope this project helps them get the love and comfort and support they need.”
After earning silver at Nationals in 2024, Mahala hopes to continue advocating for hospice care and wants FCCLA chapters across the state to join in supporting this vital cause. By combining her passion for community service with hospice care, Mahala is making a lasting difference for patients and families.
