People who have yet to get a peek inside the House of Hope – and even those who previously have – will have another chance to see it.

Saturday, November 13, 1999

People who have yet to get a peek inside the House of Hope – and even those who previously have – will have another chance to see it. But this time, it will be all decked out for the holidays.

The House of Hope Christmas House Christmas Tour will be Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 20 and 21 and Nov. 27 and 28. Hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for $5.

Joyce Shaman, a member of the House of Hope board of directors, said the idea for the fund-raiser came after many people said they hadn’t yet seen the house.

In addition, Shaman said, the tour seemed like a good way for local merchants to show off their holiday merchandise.

The House of Hope is designed as a place for cancer patients and their families to stay while undergoing treatment at the Cancer Treatment Center at Albert Lea Medical Center.

Wedge Nursery is doing some outside decorating, and Johnson Floral will decorate the back porch. Other businesses – Andersens Hallmark, JRJ of Hayward, Rainbow Foods, Flowers by Curt, Ben’s Floral, Heart of the Artichoke, Hy-Vee and the Turtle Dove Tea House – will all decorate a room within the house.

Cookies, cider and coffee served during the tour, and special Christmas ornaments made by Dr. Edwin Cook, Albert Lea Medical Center’s new radiologist, will be available for sale.

Also available for sale, for $3 each, will be frozen House of Hope Beef Pastie Pies. The House of Hope held a fund-raiser luncheon with the pies in June, which went over very well, Shaman said.

&uot;We’ve made 400 in tinfoil pans. They’ll make an easy holiday meal with no preparation time,&uot; she said, adding Gerry Vogt of Mrs. Gerry’s Kitchens donated all the vegetables needed for the pies – already peeled. That made the volunteers’ work much easier.

All along, Shaman said, she’s been overwhelmed by the number of people who have helped with the project, whether they’ve done maintenance, cleaning, building the deck on the home or making quilts.

&uot;So many people’s lives have been touched by serious illness,&uot; she said of people’s reasons for helping and wanting to make a difference.

The House of Hope previously held two open houses, but last time not all the furnishings were in. &uot;Just about everyone who comes in is very surprised at just how beautiful the house is,&uot; Shaman said.

Particularly interesting was when many former St. Theodore School students visited and recalled many years ago when the house was used as a convent. &uot;So many of them were in the house as children. The stories they told were fun,&uot; she said.

Shaman said fund-raising for the house has started off well. The House of Hope has an interest-free note from the bank until May 1, 2000. More than one-third of the needed funds have been raised so far. And she stresses that donations don’t always have to be in cash. Someone recently donated 100 shares of stock, which was very much appreciated.

In addition to Shaman, the fund-raising committee includes Jane Buege, Clemencia Gujral, Lu Saul and Darlene Greibrok.