You Don't Have To Know Someone to be a Friend

Pretend for just a moment I called you personally and said, "There is a family down the street who simply can't balance their rent and buy groceries this week. I need your assistance."  You know me well enough from my past notes that if I stated this fact that you could trust that I needed your involvement ... and soon. I would not be asking for a specific amount, but perhaps enough for funding a day or two of meals.

My objective for the underfunded and indigent families who come to UVA Medical Center in need of food and lodging is ever increasing, but the absolute minimum need for full day nourishment is now 200 packets monthly.  These are the families just down the street caught in life's crisis as a loved one is being treated for so many desperate situations.

I constantly reflect on how I would feel if my child was laying there in critical condition without knowing what is to come, and all the time I was there without adequate money and hungry, ashamed of having to ask for help. Someone did call me last year; someone who sees this situation daily. Her name is Teresa Bevins, the UVA Pediatric Social Worker.

Please visit that appeal and scroll back to the "older entries" on our blog to April 26, 2010,  and read those situations which are on-going at the Medical Center. I still visit Teresa's comments and it never fails to cause an emotional stirring. And Elisheva and I never go shopping for groceries without picking up items for our own meal packets for the twice monthly delivery.

I must continue to reach out for your consideration monthly for as little as $5 to make a full day meal, or by organizing a family activity, kid's day in the neighborhood, a garage sale, or a church gathering solely dedicated to assembling food items for making  completed packets.

We are always ready to offer advice regarding what is needed and when to pick up or drop off. Margaret Gorman, Meal Packet Manager, has the pamphlet for guidance. IHS email is info@interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org and our mailing address is:

Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc.  

P. O. Box 163  

Palmyra, VA 22963

In case you hadn't guessed, we always put a note into each meal packet ... something personal to let the recipient know that "You don't have to know someone to be a friend."

Thanks for all that you can do to keep this opportunity vital.
Love... T. Wade Clegg III

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other state employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2011 begins October 1st.  Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. (IHS) is a CVC charity.  To support our work for lodging, meals, co-pay etc., designate your gift to CVC 3648.info@interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org