The city of New Iberia is focusing on healing tonight as community members gather in Bouligny Plaza for the 16th annual VOICE for Victims Rally.

Multiple community organizations are there available and ready to answer questions and provide services to residents. VOICE stands for “voices of innocent citizens empowered”.

The organization holds a rally every year to connect community members to service organization like Hearts of Hope, CASA, and Chez Hope and Heart of Hopice. 

“Sometimes violence can increase around patients who are dying,” says Ashley Brinkhaus with Heart of Hospice, an organization that works to better end-of-life care for those in the community they serve.  “Emotions run high during death and sometimes it can happen. We like to plan care for the patient and the patient’s needs whatever that might look like.”

“We believe that it is our role to hold their hands and guide them through a very difficult time in their life but in the same breath we want it to be as beautiful as it possibly can,”  Brinkhaus added.

Sevently percent of Americans do not discuss their end-of-life wishes, not even with their healthcare providers.

“We love being part of community events and we feel like the more people we are able to educate about the hospice benefit the less scary the word becomes,” says Brinkhaus. Heart of Hospice will hold a Celebration of Life butterfly release April 28 at 2 p.m. at Le Barn Rouge, on Rue du Belier.

This event is open to anyone who has experienced loss. It is not just for those who were a recipient of hospice care.