A meaningful new space for remembrance and reflection is ready to welcome visitors at Hospice Huntsville, thanks to a hands-on service project led by Rotary People of Action Huntsville, with support from Hospice Huntsville, the Rotary Club of Huntsville and Rolston’s Home Hardware.
The Wind Phone has now been built and completed, offering a peaceful place where people can pause, remember loved ones they have lost, and express the words they may still wish they could say.
The project began when Rotary People of Action Huntsville reached out to Hospice Huntsville to ask how its members could provide practical, hands-on support to the organization. As a boots on-the-ground service club, People of Action focuses on rolling up its sleeves and completing projects that make a tangible difference in the community.
The Wind Phone became an opportunity to create something lasting and meaningful for Hospice residents, their families and others experiencing grief.
A Wind Phone is an old-fashioned telephone that is not connected to a telephone line. Instead, it provides a symbolic way for people to speak to someone who has died, share memories, express feelings or simply say the things left unsaid.
The concept originated in Japan following the 2011 tsunami, when a man created a telephone booth in his garden as a way to symbolically communicate with his deceased cousin. Since then, Wind Phones have been created in communities around the world as places for remembrance, reflection and connection.
“We reached out to Hospice Huntsville because we wanted to find a way our members could help through hands-on service,” said Jennifer Jerrett of Rotary People of Action Huntsville. “The Wind Phone is a simple idea, but it carries so much meaning. We hope it will provide a quiet place for people to remember someone special, share their thoughts and feel connected to the people they have lost. We’re proud to have been able to bring this project to life with the support of our community partners.”
Hospice Huntsville played an important role in the project, offering design ideas, plaquing and helping ensure the Wind Phone would be a meaningful addition to its grounds and the support it provides to individuals and families.
“We are so grateful to Rotary People of Action for reaching out and asking how they could
support Hospice Huntsville,” said Rebecca Ellerson, Executive Director of Hospice Huntsville.
“Grief is deeply personal, and having a quiet space where people can reflect, remember and speak to someone they miss can be incredibly meaningful. We are delighted to have the Wind Phone here and hope it brings comfort to the many people who will use it.”
Brittany Evans led the project and played a key role in bringing the Wind Phone from an idea to a finished structure, enlisting the help of her father, Paul Evans, and her partner, Mitch Quathamer, to help make it a reality.
“It was really important to me to see this project come to fruition and create something that could bring comfort to people in our community,” said Brittany Evans, project lead. “I was fortunate to have my dad, Paul, and my partner, Mitch, step in and help make it happen. Having them involved made this project even more special, and I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to create together. I hope the Wind Phone becomes a place where people feel comfortable taking a moment to remember, reflect and say whatever is in their hearts.”
This project wouldn’t have been possible without Rolston’s Home Building Centre who
supported the project with materials and assistance, while members of Rotary People of Action Huntsville and the Rotary Club of Huntsville contributed their time and skills to bring the structure together.
The completed Wind Phone provides a welcoming place to sit quietly, surrounded by nature, and take a moment for remembrance. There is no right or wrong way to use it. Visitors are welcome to pick up the receiver and speak freely, whether they want to share a memory, express their feelings or simply say hello.
This project reflects the spirit of Service Above Self and demonstrates how local organizations can make a difference by sharing their time, resources and skills to support the needs of their community.
The Wind Phone is now complete and located on the grounds of Hospice Huntsville, where it will serve as a lasting place for reflection, remembrance and connection.
