More May Helpers in Busy Final Month of Regular School Year

Notes from Margaret Gorman, Meal Packet Coordinator The Cadette Girl Scouts of Troop 146 used a recent meeting to assemble 48 meal packets. Their leader is Kathy MacEldowny. Troop 146 uses various locations for their meetings, but their most recent meeting was held at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist, where the church children assemble their meal packets. We so appreciate the girls spending some their hard-earned cookie money to buy items for the full-day meal packets and for taking time out of their year-long celebration for the Centennial for Girl Scouting to help out the people at the UVA Hospital. Happy Anniversary to all the Girl Scouts. We hope you and your fellow Girl Scouts have a great time at the Girl Scout Sing-Along in Washington, DC on June 9th. To learn more about this upcoming celebration, see http://100.gscnc.org/rtm_about.html. Angela & Julia Shopping Western Albemarle High School Key Club in Crozet, VA has completed collection of meal packet items. They have scheduled another service project at the school on Thursday, May 17th during the 12:20 PM class period with the objective of assembling 100 full-day meal packets. This is the second time this school year that the Key Club has dedicated a project of meal packet production for the IHS Food Program for the UVA Hospital. The last assembly session at the school was February 16th. Special thanks to Julia Updike, President of the Key Club, and Angela Li, Project Coordinator for this project. We know that you are all involved with studies for final exams and other end of year activities, and this show of support at this time is very much appreciated. Have a great summer! Meal Packet Program could use assistance for Summer Months We fully recognize that these final weeks of May are fully occupied for all school ages, and parents. For those who are still having scout meetings, school club activities, Sunday School classes, or other group activities, please consider a full-day meal packet project during the summer months, or look ahead as you plan service projects from September forward.   Final Reminder: A group as small as a family unit can make a big impact on this special program for the indigent population who come from hundreds of miles to the UVA Medical Center. If you need an example of a family of four actively helping, and lead by Alex (6) and Kate (4), then scroll back to the April 7th blog and read about the Cheng family of Charlottesville. Over a period of months they produced 30 full-day meal packets. Learn all you need to know by accessing the following link: http://www.interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org/foodlist.php            for downloading a guide for making a full-day meal packet. Thanks for your on-going consideration ... T. Wade Clegg III

Children's Groups Who Made a Difference for May Meal Program

Thanks to the generosity of the two groups listed below, we will have sufficient full-day meal packets through this month for the caregiver program in the UVA Medical Center. Summer months are the most challenging since most school and church classes, as well as scouts and clubs, will be on extended break. Therefore, those groups from last year who still have an opportunity to consider an assembly session for producing full-day packets in the next few months will certainly be welcomed, plus any NEW volunteers. You will understand the merit of this "lesson in giving" by reading of the experiences below. Remember - the guide for how to make an IHS full-day zip lock meal packet is located at http://www.interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org/foodlist.php. Brownie Troop 674's First Large Service Project a Huge Success! The fourteen Brownies of Girl Scout Troop 674 performed a great service for IHS at their meeting on Friday, April 26, 2012.  The troop, which meets twice a month at Brownsville Elementary School in Crozet, VA, are a young troop and this was their first large service project. After saying "The Pledge of Allegiance" and "The Girl Scout Promise", the girls previewed their afternoon's project so that everyone would know what to do. The troop divided into two groups. One group made beautiful greeting cards that they colored, cut out and applied stickers and messages to, while the girls in the other group each filled three meal packets from the supplies that were laid out on tables in the classroom where the troop meets. Then the girls switched jobs and the task was completed quickly. Troop leader Amy Life helped the girls organize donating some of the food and supplies for 48 meal packets, but we should note that some of the troop's hard-earned cookie money went toward purchasing many of the items they put in the packets. Thanks very much to Ms. Life, the college student assistants, and the Brownies for their good spirited and generous donation. Children's Garden Preschool in Earlysville, VA  helps again! Maria Brown writes us about her project and the impact it has on the young children in her school: "The children who worked on this project are from 2-5 years old, and there were a total of 15 children who participated in the project.  Each one put together a packet, and we all worked together to make the 'cards' that are in the meal packets.  Our discussions about the project were priceless. The children talked about helping people who were sad because someone they loved was sick, and how they needed to eat.  They were happy that we could do something that might help to make them happy, and not so hungry!  Several of the children commented that the meals looked really good to eat, and they hoped that the people we were giving to liked them! I also had several positive comments from the parents of the children.  They were happy to contribute, and thought that it was important for their children to learn the value of helping others.  It has been a very positive experience for us all!  Thank you for all you do to help these people who are experiencing such a difficult time in their lives.  We will definitely do this project again next year.   Sincerely ... Maria" FINAL REMINDER:  The IHS Meal Packet Program allows every family, business, club, church, school, and scouting group to select a month or two each year for purchase of food items and organize assembly sessions for a truly worthwhile giving opportunity. The productivity of each group depends solely upon your abilities, just as the two groups featured above.  Some families have made a couple of meal packets each shopping trip, and then at the end of a period called or emailed IHS to arrange a time for meeting and accepting their production. It's that simple! Unless specifically indicated, money donations are directed to the general fund to cover lodging accommodations, co-pay and after hours prescriptions. The "Baby Fund" account (for infant car seats, clothing and breast pump rentals) and "Food Fund" can be designated  by a donor when a donation is sent by check or PayPal.  Contributions by U.S. Postal System are sent to:  IHS P.O. Box 163 Palmyra, Virginia 22963  IHS is once again a member of the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) for 2012, beginning in October each year specifically for Virginia State employees to contribute. IHS has CVC code 3648. Thanks for your on-going consideration ... T. Wade Clegg III

CVC 2011 - A Good Start for First Involvement

Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2011 Update This is a special e-mail for Virginia State Employees who offered support through payroll deduction.  However, it is indeed worth sharing with all friends who have shown their devotion and interest in this charity, which is now moving into its fourth year.  Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. has CVC code 3648. From date of application in April 2011 to participate in CVC, and enrollment by employees in October 2011, it has taken until April of 2012 to receive notice of how many participated and made contributions to IHS. Notice arrived only this past week that twenty (20) Charlottesville state employees enrolled to donate a total of $4,062.00 over this year.     It was an important start for a first time All volunteer charity IHS is dedicated to indigent patients and caregivers who are served at the University of Virginia Medical Center. Not well known even in the hospital itself, with very little opportunity to promote except through word of mouth, and twice monthly e-mails, it was so gratifying that twenty people were added to our efforts with needed contributions. Small stable contributions are always the basis for sustaining a charitable effort over the years to come, and this initial show of support is deeply appreciated. IHS met minimum requirements and is now enrolled for CVC 2012! If you wish to share this announcement by forward e-mail,  the opportunity for exposure  is so welcomed.  Other contact info is also listed below.  Our mission has not changed, only the addition of some unmet needs to assist the social staff in their efforts to further secure those being served. Remember -- " IHS is constantly building a stronger safety net for those who come from great distances in need of temporary assistance with lodging, food, co-pay & prescriptions, and some very important needs in pediatrics, such as infant car seats, baby clothes and  rental fees for electric breast pumps for uninsured mothers."  IHS is a totally independent, non-religious, nonprofit, no stock, ALL volunteer, 501(c)3,  public charity - the "go-to" 24/7 responder when a social worker calls.

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other state employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2012 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.

IT ALL ADDS UP! A Quick Look at March 2012

Food awaiting packaging Why so much emphasis on food assembly groups? Most of this charity's categories of support, such as lodging, co-pay & prescription,  travel,  pediatric needs (infant car seats and rental of electric breast pumps), as well as food supplies to stock the kitchen at UVA Hospitality House are based on receipt of funds.  Money is received and that money purchases all of the above.   BUT ... the one program which depends almost solely on multiple group participation .... AND MOSTLY KIDS ... is the full-day meal packet program to secure caregivers inside the hospital without adequate funds to sustain themselves while monitoring loved ones.  Quite frankly, without  the exceptional attention by church classes, Scout troops, School clubs, and individual families, this charity could not have sustained this vital program which allows UVA Social Workers  to identify someone in their section of the UVA Medical Center who is hungry, and feed that person. SO ... each opportunity to recognize these marvelous groups  is entered into these e-mails which are immediately placed in our blog site at http://www.interfaithsanctum.blogspot.com.  March is no exception. Just looking back over the Month 286 full-day meal packets were delivered to the Office of Social Work during the month of March. This is the highest monthly need in three years. Normal sustained monthly need has been about 200.   Throughout February  the lead group of kids for the program at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist in Charlottesville delivered their production of 282 full-day meals on March 5th. Louisa Scouts and a single family from Ivy added 149  more to top off the month.  That's a total of 431 packets!  Each packet has food items valued above $5.00.   Please read the latest notes from Tina Schweikart and Margaret Gorman below. NOW ... you can visualize how much is being produced by dedicated kids and how much is being used.  Hopefully, your personal group or family can pitch in Louisa scouts assembling food packages Notes from Louisa by Tina Schweikart On March 27th Louisa Cub Scout Pack 183 and Louisa Boy Scout Troop 3 combined their efforts and assembled full-day meal packets for the Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) Food Program. By working closely with Troop Master Harry Quarels, and Troop 3, cub scouts interact with older scouts forming a great bond in the community.  At the late March meeting, the boys packaged 119 complete full-day meal packets. A meal packet begins with a gallon-size zip lock bag with utensils and a diversity of food items. Each packet consists of healthy options for breakfast, lunch & dinner, as well as snacks and side dishes ~ food for an entire day! Each item is "ready to eat" or requires only hot water or a microwave to prepare. Supporting IHS and their efforts gives our cub scouts the opportunity to follow the Law of the Pack: "The Cub Scout follows Akela, the pack helps the Cub Scout grow, the Cub Scout helps the pack go, and a Cub Scout gives good will". Cub Scouts are able to give good will to the other people in our community. The boys are always very excited about bringing in the different items and picking out the components for assembling the meal packets. There is a sense of pride among them that this one thing is making a difference for someone else. The partnership with IHS continues to be a wonderful experience. The Pack will again provide this community service in October. A Note from Margaret Gorman The Cheng family delivers food to IHS storage office Last October I received an e-mail from Elaine Cheng, who lives in downtown Charlottesville. Elaine said:  "I'm looking for a way to have my children help the community. I read through some of your organization's literature and I think putting together meal packages would be a good way to get my kids involved." Fast forward to March 26, I received another note from Elaine asking where to drop off the meal packets. Project completed!   Elaine related her experience with this,  "I would like to take the kids (Alex 6 and Kate 4) when we deliver so they can help. It will help remind them why we are doing this and its effect. I have to say I did not do anything special for food shopping. I went to Krogers and just added the food item to my list. It was a lot of fun, but made my basket very, very full.  My husband and kids ran around the store finding the items we needed and loading up the cart while I did normal shopping. I asked Alex (my oldest) to write up a story and picture." On March 31 the Cheng family delivered their 30 full-day meal packets to the IHS storage office at 105 Crofton Plaza at Lake Monticello in the Palmyra area. Elaine related that this was a wonderful family endeavor. I thought I would relate this intimate experience, for it offers a opportunity to share how one family with small children can take time over many weeks, and become involved as they plan a strategy for buying, shopping  together, assembling together, and discussing the project and writing personal  notes of well wishes to recipients for each packet. Nice going ... Family Cheng!

A Case Profile and First Quarter 2012 Update ...

Another example of why we are called for lodging assistance Individual cases are altered for privacy, but it serves for you to know those situations whereby no other charity or hospital opportunity exists to assist. IHS responds immediately 24/7 to UVA Social Workers. All requests are screened and approved by Social Work staff.   Case Profile:  Received a call late night from social worker KR, who was trying to make a plan for a patient who lives about 200 miles from UVA Medical Center.  Procedure would be scheduled for a morning, but because the patient would necessarily need to be in a room for immediate access to a private restroom for the overnight flushing of the patient's system, this eliminated staying at UVA Hospitality House (HH) for the one night prior to the early morning procedure.  Hospitality House does not have private restrooms, but is configured more as a dormitory, and this very personal preparatory method causes problems for jointly used restrooms.  Only option:  A local commercial hotel room. The patient's only opportunity for the procedure is in Charlottesville. The patient is Pay Grade 1 (indigent) and not able to pay for a commercial hotel room. Patient has secured a friend with a car to drive and stay with the patient the night before. Also, the patient is not permitted to drive after the procedure which is about four hours one-way. Social Worker Exchange at 10 PM:  "That's the situation in order to have the patient secured and present for the scheduled morning procedure.  Hospitality House can't accommodate this situation. Do you think you could assist?"    IHS Response:   "Certainly ... just get me the details for making a reservation." Social Worker Return Call:  "I have spoken with the patient and she is so appreciative for this assistance.  Patient actually started to cry." Prominent numbers regarding  IHS Lodging Assistance (Jan. - Mar 20, 2012) January 2012  Total nights booked in commercial hotels:   7    which served 9 people                     Total nights assisting at Hospitality House 13   which served 2 people February 2012 Total nights booked in commercial hotels:   6     which served 10 people                     Total nights assisting at Hospitality House: 112  which served  6 people March 2012    Total nights booked in commercial hotels:    10    which served 17 people          No Hospitality Rooms booked in March to date (March lodging through March 20) Update on Infant Car Seats, and a new unmet need in Pediatric Clinic Baby Car Seats:  January-March  20, 2012:  IHS delivered  9  infant car seats and 2 very small infant car seats  to UVA Social Office for Pediatric Clinics.  Balance remaining in stock: 5 regular infant car seats. Electric Breast Pumps: January-March 20, 2012:  IHS was asked to assist those mothers in Pediatrics who are not insured for electric breast pumps and have an immediate need from 1-2 months. IHS secured rental for two women during this first quarter of 2012.   Update on Food Program (January - March 20,  2012) UVA Medical Center IHS Food Program:  During this period a total of 538 full-day meal packets were delivered for access by all Social Workers through Clinical Social Worker Coordinator Teresa Bevins. Full-day Meal Packet items are purchased and assembled by volunteer groups. Cost for making one meal packet is about five dollars. The lead contributor for this quarter and the major annual contributor in Charlottesville was the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist  Sunday School students with marvelous church support. The Key Club of Western Albemarle High School in Ivy, Virginia was also a donor in February.   UVA Hospitality House Food Program:  During this period  total food purchases were $709.14. IHS consults with the Hospitality House Manager weekly to insure that adequate food supplies are in house for indigent patients. IHS delivers from 2-4 times monthly as supplies are required.   IHS Food program:  For groups such as Scouts, Sunday School classes, Day Schools, School and Private Clubs, Businesses, etc. who would like to participate during the year, please access the following link for a description of the program and another link for downloading a guide for making a full-day meal packet. This is an on-going project in need of many participants. http://www.interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org/food.php FINAL REMINDER:  Unless specifically indicated, money donations are directed to the general fund to cover lodging accommodations, co-pay and after hours prescriptions.  The "Baby Fund" account and "Food Fund" can be designated  by a donor when a donation is sent by check or PayPal.  Contributions by U.S. Postal System to:  IHS,  P.O. Box 163, Palmyra, Virginia 22963. Thanks for your on-going consideration ... T. Wade Clegg III

Children Involved with Serious Giving

Exceeding Expectations - Notes from Margaret Gorman Teacher & Students working together The children of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist  in Charlottesville, Virginia  spent the month of February examining the issue of "Justice." They explored the issue of economic justice and hunger, and they assembled meal packets to donate to the IHS.  Our goal was for them to put together 100 full-day meal packets over three weeks and budgeted for this amount. However, at the end of the first Sunday we were astonished to find the children had used up all the supplies and we had 100 meal packets ready to put in boxes for the UVA Medical Center .   Scrambling to increase the numbers We scrambled to purchase supplies for another 100 meals. We thought this first group of children was unusual in their zeal and efficiency. We were wrong. After our second week we found ourselves with combined total of 181 complete meals sitting in boxes ready for the hospital.  Our church's Social Action Committee picked up the bill for our cost over-run but we still had another week of Justice lessons. We went shopping again for supplies and the Religious Education Program absorbed the cost. Looking over foods to be assembled into packages Who would have thought? On the final Sunday we had very young children - first and second grade - assemble meals. We did not think they could put together 100 meals and prepared to ask the teen youth group to finish the task another week. Well, we were wrong. You can see photos of this group of children at work on our final Sunday. Note how happy they are! And efficient! The only bottle neck was they are still young writers so it took them extra time to write their greeting cards. Fortunately our photographer, Mike, stopped by the classroom and heeded the pleading looks from the teachers to help put the cards in the bags and seal them for storage. The total number of meals was 282. Kids assembling packages together making a difference Involving all ages in the giving programs This is a fun and rewarding activity for all ages. Our church has now had children as young as two and three, and through our seniors, participate. Everyone understands what this is about and why it is important to help people who come to our community and  need our assistance. I would encourage any group of friends, scouts, clubs or churches to put together any number of meals for the IHS. The 10 meals we received from a preschool are just as welcome as the 282 that our church put together in our meal packet assembly line. A Final Reminder This program had a theme to explore and a minimum objective. When the enthusiasm is high and parents and church committees are prepared, the kids are a force to behold.  Visit the IHS Food Program and  link for what is involved.  Set a realistic objective and  pick a month when your church, club, business or scout troop can add to the numbers.  Remember - IHS needs about 250 meal packets every month. Thanks for your attention ... Margaret

February Assistance Noted - March Planning Active!

Infant Car Seat Project making a difference The following note was received on February 23rd, the day after delivering two more infant car seats to the UVA Social Work Office.  IHS  has delivered eight (8) infant car seats since beginning the "Baby Program" in December. Social Worker EB wrote, "I  gave out two car seats this week to women with very difficult situations. They were both very appreciative. One was brought to tears. She had been so worried about not having a way to get some of the things they need. I am very judicious about car seats, as I want patients to be responsible for their own as much as possible. I had two situations in this one week in which it felt really good to have car seats to offer. Thanks so much.  EB" Cosco Scenera seat, a truly reasonable investment A Big Thanks to Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) Daniel Dias, with the DJG Institutional Sales Team in Foxboro, MA sent IHS  six(6)  FREE Cosco Scenera infant car seats, which arrived by Federal Express on February 20th.  DJG does not have an official grant program, and mostly only donates to a local Safe Kids Coalition; however, Daniel said he would ship 6 seats to help our efforts.  NOW  we have those six seats in storage just as we gave out the first seats donated by friends of IHS.  Thusfar, thanks to the DJG donation, we have now obtained 14 seats.  Thanks to Daniel for his quick response! Infant Clothing Receipt last week for Baby Program Another objective is to keep enough infant clothing on hand for these same infants when they leave the hospital.  Dawn Cleveland of Ivy, Virginia provided three boxes containing over 140 baby clothing items.  Thanks Dawn for this sizable contribution.  Service Project at Western Albemarle High School Notes from Margaret Gorman  Western Albemarle High School The Key Club at Western Albemarle High School in Crozet, Virginia assembled 50 full day meal packets at their meeting on Thursday, February 16th. The club received donations for this activity from Harris Teeter Grocery Store (Crozet), and from the Great Value Grocery Store (Crozet) and Sam's Club in Charlottesville. Club members also brought in items for the meal packets. This service project was organized by Key Club member Angela Li. We are very grateful to the students in the club and to the other Western Albemarle High School students who came to the club meeting to help assemble the packets. Your concern and actions mean a lot to the people at the University of Virginia Medical Center who received your support. Thank you. Louisa Cub Scouts Gearing up for March Food Assembly Session Notes from Louisa, VA by Tina Schweikart On March 27th Louisa Cub Scout Pack 183 and Louisa Boy Scout Troop 3 will combine their efforts to assemble full-day meal packets for the Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) Food Program for caregivers and families who come to the UVA Medical Center with patients from long distances without adequate funds for eating. Twice yearly in March and October, Pack 183 hosts an "assembly line" production to collect and assemble meal packets for IHS. Each time, one local Boy Scout Troop joins the effort.  Cub Scout Pack 183 is lead by Pack Master Jim Snider which currently has 59 boys registered.  Troop 3 is lead by Troop Master Harry Quarles, and is a long standing troop in Louisa.  The boys and their families meet at the Louisa Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia  at 6:30PM. Meal Packets consist of healthy options for breakfast, lunch & dinner, as well as snacks and side dishes.  Each item is "ready to eat" or requires only hot water or a microwave to prepare. For a detailed list for review and download, visit the IHS website Food Program page. Then after reading about the program, click on the link for the handout.    If you wish to contribute to meal collections, or for more information on our combined scout efforts in Louisa,  please contact Tina Schweikart, Bear Cub Leader with Pack 183 at  jtschweikart@aol.com  or 540-894-9854.  Thanks so much!   Sincerely ... T. Wade