LUMBERTON — For the past eight years, Peggy Paparella has used her talents and creativity to help support a cause close and dear to her heart — hospice.

Paparella’s mother and sister both received hospice care.

“People who have had an experience with hospice know it’s a peaceful time for patients and their families,” Paparella said. “It really is wonderful to know that my family was comfortable and cared for in their time of need.”

As a way to give back and support local hospice services, Paparella lets her creative juices flow each fall while creating a wide range of items, including purses, bags, hats, pins and even baked goods, in preparation for the annual Unique Boutique fundraiser, formerly known as the Santa’s Shop, at Southeastern Hospice’s Festival of Trees.

The Unique Boutique is filled with one-of-a -kind handmade crafts and home-baked goodies for sale to benefit Southeastern Hospice, the only nonprofit hospice facility in Robeson County, and Camp Care, a weekend camp held in May for children who have suffered a loss through death. Southeastern Hospice is an affiliate of Southeastern Regional Medical Center.

The annual festival, which features a holiday tree display, will kick off on Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. at the Osterneck Auditorium at 102 N. Chestnut St. The festival continues the following Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“It started out as basically a bake sale with some small craft items on the side,” Paparella said of the boutique. “We have grown from that to becoming a full-fledged store full of handcrafted items, donated gifts, and baked goods. The Unique Boutique is the best-kept secret in town.”

Each year, a variety of items are donated by individuals, churches and organizations throughout the community, ranging from clothes, purses, baby items, quilts, pictures and holiday decorations to a wide assortment of baked goods, including cakes, candy, cookies, breads, crackers and hot chocolate. Most items are available for purchase in the boutique while others will be sold at a silent auction or raffled during the festival.

Friends of Hospice, which is composed of 16 women, coordinates the Unique Boutique each year and also donates items to sell.

Paparella, who has been a Friends of Hospice member since she moved to Lumberton in 2001 and also served as committee chairwoman for four years, said the Friends of Hospice is a special group because each member has had an association with hospice, whether through a relative or someone who needed hospice care.

“The women on this committee are the most talented women that I have ever worked with. We have a variety of gifts, each given freely, to make this shop the success that it has become,” Paparella said. “The Friends of Southeastern Hospice have painters, sewers, knitters, designers, artists and organizers. We have fun and enjoy working together to make each event the best it can be.”

If you are looking for a one-stop shop for holiday decorating ideas, unique holiday gifts or homemade treats, the Festival of Trees and the Unique Boutique are the place for you. Admission to the annual holiday festival is $3 for adults, and $2 for seniors and youths ages 12 and over. Children under 12 are admitted free; PrivlegesPlus members may present their membership card for free admission.

For information about the Festival of Trees, call (910) 671-5577. To learn how you can be involved or donate to the Unique Boutique, call (910) 735-8915.