By Bill Wertman, CEO, Big Bend Hospice
Last Friday, I had the privilege of standing alongside our Big Bend Hospice team, volunteers, community leaders, and supporters as we celebrated the grand opening of our second Oak Tree Treasures location in Tallahassee.
It was an exciting milestone for Big Bend Hospice, but more importantly, it was a celebration of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared purpose.
Oak Tree Treasures has always been more than a resale shop.
Every donation received, every item purchased, and every volunteer who gives their time helps support the mission of Big Bend Hospice. The store provides a unique way for our community to invest in compassionate care while giving new life to items that still have a story to tell.
Over the past several years, we’ve watched Oak Tree Treasures become something even greater than we imagined. It has become a gathering place. A place where volunteers build lasting friendships, where shoppers become supporters, and where generosity continues long after someone leaves the store.
That spirit was on full display during Friday’s ribbon-cutting.
The incredible turnout reminded me just how fortunate we are to live in a community that believes in caring for one another. Seeing so many familiar faces, community partners, Foundation supporters, volunteers, and neighbors come together to celebrate this new chapter was both humbling and inspiring.
The afternoon also included an unexpected and deeply personal surprise.
Without my knowledge, our team dedicated the new Oak Tree Treasures location in honor of my mother, Mary Rosalie “Rosie” Wertman-Wilson. My mother loved spending time with family and friends, and one of her favorite pastimes was searching for hidden treasures while thrifting. To have her memory recognized in a place that celebrates community, generosity, and connection was an incredible honor that my family and I will never forget.
That thoughtful gesture reminded me of something I’ve always believed about Big Bend Hospice.
We don’t simply care for patients. We honor people. We celebrate their lives, preserve their stories, and recognize the relationships that continue long after someone is gone. Whether it’s through the care our clinical teams provide, the work of our Foundation, or the community built through Oak Tree Treasures, everything we do is rooted in the belief that every life leaves a lasting impact.
I want to thank everyone who made this new location possible. Our Oak Tree Treasures team, Big Bend Hospice staff, volunteers, donors, community partners, and the many shoppers who continue to support Oak Tree Treasures have helped create something truly special.
This second location represents more than growth. It represents the strength of a community that believes in giving back.
If you haven’t visited yet, I hope you’ll stop by (3802 North Monroe Street). You might discover the perfect piece for your home, but more importantly, you’ll become part of something much bigger. Every purchase helps support compassionate hospice care for families throughout the Big Bend, ensuring that our mission continues for generations to come.
That is the true treasure.
And thanks to this community, it’s one we’ll continue building together.