Amanda Thomas is using her talent and determination to brighten the lives of strangers this holiday season. A classically trained pianist currently working as a researcher, Amanda made a CD of traditional holiday songs and sold them to family and friends to raise money to buy plants for 100 terminally ill patients being cared for by The Washington Home and Community Hospices.

On Thursday, December 20 at 10:45 a.m., Amanda will deliver the plants to patients at The Washington Home and Community Hospices, 3720 Upton Street, NW, DC, and play some of the songs from her holiday CD.

Her CD sales made enough money also to provide an appreciation lunch for the doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, chaplains, bereavement counselors, social workers and volunteers who care for the hospice patients and their families.

The Washington Home and Community Hospices have been providing healthcare to area residents with long-term and life-limiting conditions for nearly 120 years.