YES ... This charity is still making a difference!

Let's talk Lodging for a minute, for those who may not know any of the intimate details of service for the indigent and severely underfunded patients who must come to UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville from considerable distances. Prior to embarking on their trip to Charlottesville, many will have to consider how to balance lodging (if an outpatient), food for a period of days, and prescriptions prior to departure.  This challenge of actually being able to afford the expenses which surround a medical appointment or treatment can negate low income patients from coming for treatment.  If it sounds abhorrent that anyone would delay an appointment which might be life-threatening, please know that people in desperate financial strain will cancel treatment if their attention to themselves may cause financial stress on other family members. You've heard the saying attributed to someone in financial stress:  It's how to balance gas money for their vehicle and eat adequately, or bringing supplies for staying in their vehicle since hotels are simply too expensive to consider. Social Workers encounter desperate situations weekly in such a  large institutionThere are from 50-60 UVA Medical Center Social  Workers working all clinics throughout the Health System.  Considerable time is devoted to working a plan for what is known as a Pay Raise 1 patient.  This charity was begun in order to provide for immediate emergency situations, last minute arrivals, and often for those with a need for an extra day to complete a diagnosis. A few years ago, we also accepted the challenge of helping those extended stays at Hospitality House for outpatient chemotherapy in Cancer Center. Last week I received an e-mail from a Social Worker  who said ... "IHS has been such a blessing to so many of our underserved patients. In times of need and when no other assistance is available, your charity has been there to provide support. IHS has often bridged the gap in services from lodging to prescription assistance, without which patients would not have adequate access to healthcare. We are so grateful for this and all that IHS does for our community.  Thank you so very much." Sometimes sweet notes arrive in pairs, but almost never from someone being assistedPatients do not know to whom a Social Worker is seeking assistance for them, so it is indeed rare when a note arrives  in our P.O. Box.  However,  this past week a lady was feeling very depressed when she learned that her time in town would require three days, and she only had enough funds for one night.  The Social Worker told her that she had been able to secure assistance for her at Hospitality House, also a place where food is provided.   Mary Jackson, Supervisor at Hospitality House, did not tell this guest who was funding her stay, but she did accept a card from this very thankful patient, and mailed it to us. The card read, "God bless you all so much for paying my stay at Hospitality House. My cup runneth over. Thank you very much.  Sincerely with Love and thankfulness." So - YES - We are still making a difference.  And ... by the way ... we can always use some assistance with the Lodging budget.  Please remember that all of us at IHS are non-paid volunteers, and we are all donating what we can to IHS personally. Also remember - for transparency we hold the "Gold Seal of Approval" from the Guidestar.org national clearing house. Please do what you can. And, if you would like to donate now to our cause, please click the button below to go to our encrypted secure on-line donation form.   Thank you so much for your ideas and invitations to expose this charity's vital mission. NEVER shy away from seeking gift-giving from others when you know it will serve the needs of the least able. Much love, T. Wade Clegg III and Sam McLawhorn

September is CVC Kick-off month

Let's start with our need for growth among the main stakeholders - the employees at UVA The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) is an important category for support of the Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) charity. CVC is the payroll deduction program provided for Virginia state employees to give to charitable organizations. Remember - the University of Virginia (UVA) Medical Center is a state hospital. It is also  the key destination as one of two Virginia discount hospitals. IHS has a special relationship with ALL Social Workers to assist the least ableEach opportunity which allows us to introduce our devotion to the University of Virginia Medical Center indigent and underfunded patients and caregivers is so vital  for funding for serving their basic needs, such as immediate temporary lodging, food, prescriptions, some travel, etc., even supplying infant car seats for over five years for pediatric wards for the underfunded parents. IHS has been available 24/7 since June 2009 for Social Worker contact when no other resource is available to the Social Workers for immediate emergency assistance. As a silent charity working through Social Workers, the part we play is often hidden     After five years in the CVC Program,  this past year only twenty-seven (27) state employees among thousands employed in Charlottesville,  donated for the 2016 year. This represented an important total donation of $3,593.00; however, the growth in funding MUST be increased. IHS is a totally volunteer charity, no salaries, and the overhead and 24/7 participation is handled by a handful of people giving extensively.  The donor pool must be larger in order to secure our mission for the least able patients a long way from home.  One way to receive exposure for IHS is when a staff member seeks to have IHS introduced at kick-off events in the Medical Center. We haven't received any UVA Kick-off  invitations as of this writing, but we are reaching out Providing the most underfunded with assistance for lodging, nourishment, medications, and other needs is a critical issue which goes beyond actual medical treatment. According to the UVA Manager of Social Work. "Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum has been an essential resource for these individuals who are experiencing acute or chronic medical conditions." Please e-mail IHS at ihsanctum@gmail.com Invite us to speak for 5 minutes during your Kick-off! Meanwhile ... we will have a tabletop display at the following locations in September-October: CVC Charity Fair, Western State Hospital, Staunton, VA  11AM -1PM September 28, 2016 CVC Charity Fair, Virginia DEQ Office, Glen Allen, VA  9:30 - 12 noon October 6, 2016 Please remember that all of us at IHS are non-paid volunteers, and we are all donating what we can to IHS personally. Also remember - for transparency we hold the "Gold Seal of Approval" from the Guidestar.org national clearing house. Please do what you can. And, if you would like to donate now to our cause, please click the button below to go to our encrypted secure on-line donation form.   Thank you so much for your ideas and invitations to expose this charity's vital mission. NEVER shy away from seeking gift-giving from others when you know it will serve the needs of the least able. Sincerely, T. Wade Clegg III and Sam McLawhorn

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other Virginia Commonwealth State Employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2016 - 2017 returns October 1st.  Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. (IHS) is a CVC charity.  To support our work for lodging, food programs, prescriptions & co-pays, pediatric support with infant car seats and clothing, etc. , designate your gift to CVC code 3648..