Remembering Elisheva

As I write these few paragraphs, it is after 2 a.m. on April 6, 2019. On this day April 6, 2016 I was rushing to get back to the UVA Hospital before sunrise. Earlier I had been observing the response members all working in panic mode to revive this girl of my dream. From the slow bed on wheels from ER after six long hours, she was lifted onto a bed on the 4th floor. She screamed from the pain of that transfer, began to shake as the cardiac arrest propelled her down onto the bed. From that point I do not believe she was conscious. An aggressive regimen of compression to restart her heart began.  I had been told that she was still alive, but the team could not control her Internal bleeding, and her legs barely had a pulse. I kept waiting for someone, anyone, to excitedly exclaim "We have a heartbeat, a strong one!" But that never happened. By mid-morning I had called Chief Chaplain Mildred Best. I asked Mildred if she would walk with me to the hospital viewing room. I met her in the main lobby and we walked down the hallway together. The young man who tried to save Elisheva' was leaning against the wall outside the viewing room.  I thanked him for his efforts and went in to see Elisheva. Elisheva had only died a few hours ago. The sheet was pulled back below her neck. She literally glowed.  She was so beautiful. I go over these details everyday. For those who knew this lovely woman, please send her your thoughts. My three daughters were here last weekend. Wade IV is in Los Angeles. We visited the magnolia tree we planted in the field by the Grace and Glory Church in Palmyra. It looked really healthy.  It's good to have a place to visit which is dedicated to someone so dear.  Each time I kiss my children, I know I'm kissing Elisheva'.  Remember how important they are. Love to you all...   T. Wade Clegg III

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other Virginia Commonwealth State Employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) begins October 1, 2019.  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 003648..

A Special Thanks to those who assisted IHS with meal packets as we began 2019!

On Saturday January 19, 2019, 52 teens from around the East Coast participated in a meal packing event for the Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS). The teens were gathered at Unity of Charlottesville for a weekend fellowship, leadership development, and spiritual deepening around the theme of "Creating Paradise." The service project was done in acknowledgement that any efforts to create paradise requires that we help people in need, sharing abundant resources and offering limitless love.     According to Kate Adamson, the weekend event was planned and led by 9 teens from Unity, including several who had participated in another meal making event for IHS in 2013 as middle school students. They were grateful to have another opportunity to serve and support families going though medical challenges at UVA Hospital.   On January 26, 2019 IHS met student Haleigh Hopper at the University of Virginia Campus and picked up meal packets produced by the Circle K at UVA. Many thanks for your help.   And a extra special thanks to the meal makers at Grace and Glory Lutheran Church in Palmyra, Virginia. Under the leadership of Jan Crowther, the dedication to monthly meal-making each second Sunday for the last THREE YEARS has been so appreciated.     Perhaps Your Church, Scout Troop, or Social Club would like to participate with meal-making even in a small way ... then please call or e-mail IHS and let us know. IHS will offer ideas for your consideration. OK?     And, as always, 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 for your support & much love  ...   T. Wade Clegg III & Sam McLawhorn  Founding Members IHS

I Asked a Few Recipiants of IHS for Feedback

January 29, 2019

And one response is provided for your knowledge IHS Support of the UVA Hospital Auxiliary Hospitality House From: Thomas Bninski, Hospitality Specialist, Patient & Guest Services "Thanks for again allowing us to request help from Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS). For many years now, IHS has been crucial to the level of hospitality we can provide to our guests. Both in the provision of food and payment assistance, IHS support has been absolutely indispensable to the welfare of our guests and our ability to accomplish our mission here. As you have witnessed over the last three years alone, UVA Health Systems still grows and serves an increasing number of patients in Charlottesville. The Hospitality House is still a vital housing assistance resource for them. The strain on our resources is unabated. Currently, of the 56 beds available, 71% percent are taken five days a week; on weekends, the average occupancy is 51% percent (more than double the average for previous years). IHS realizes, and helps with, the undiminished difficulties our guests face with affording Charlottesville prices for food and services. Since early last year, more and more guests are staying longer while undergoing radiation, and or chemotherapy, or awaiting a patient's rehabilitation; stays of six to eight weeks are unexceptional. Though our average weekday occupancy declined from last year, weekend occupancy rose. With the increasing length of such stays, we are still highly dependent on IHS supplementing the normal food drive donations of dry and canned goods with perishables such as fruit, vegetables, milk, juices, cheese, breakfast sandwiches and frozen dinners. All of this is provided at no cost to the guests and gives a huge boost to morale when they can prepare meals and are freed from logistical concerns. Additionally, IHS enables us to host monthly lunches and dinners, and keep a supply of water bottles and snacks available in the first floor lobby. Rest assured the food you have given here does not go to waste. Along with gratitude for the food, you have our thanks for the picnic ware (cups, flatware and plates) with which to serve our guests. In conclusion IHS's help makes it possible for us to help. It's been wonderful to receive your support. Thank you for all you have done. We hope your importance is fully appreciated and your work adequately supported." Thomas Bninski, Hospitality Specialist Thank you Thomas for those beautiful words of thanks and appreciation. It is always a pleasure to receive notes like this in regards to the help and assistance IHS renders during the year. We are always glad to continue to support the Hospitality House and visitors who are in need of food, shelter and hope. And, as always, 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 for your support & much love  ...   T. Wade Clegg III & Sam McLawhorn  Founding Members IHS

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other Virginia Commonwealth State Employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) begins October 1, 2019.  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 003648..

Just Sharing ... Some Personal Thoughts from T. Wade Clegg III

This past week I  met for lunch with three vibrant women who provided such a heightened measure of joy that I wanted to take a minute and share with all of you.  These ladies are involved as  leaders of two of the latest nonprofit charities,  namely Yellow Door Foundation and Lilypads Housing, both dedicated to the University of Virginia Children's Hospital Housing Collaborative. The collaborative is a collection of local non-profit organizations all working together to help provide different lodging options for UVA Pediatric families in need.  The collection  also includes the following:  Ronald McDonald House (RMH), The Alyssa House, and Open Arms. The Yellow Door Foundation has been active in Charlottesville for several years and Lilypads will activate placement of families this month. It was a delight to listen to these passionate professionals who have added to the lodging opportunities for families in need of family lodging for extended periods in settings which allow isolation for critical situations, such as recovery time for a transplant. Although the initial contact for many families will be through Ronald McDonald House for discussion; the House has only 19 bedrooms and is constantly fully occupied. As most of you who are familiar with Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) know, we are not in direct contact with hospital patients and families, and our objective is for immediate short-term assistance, when a Social Worker calls. This is why IHS knew from the outset that 24/7 openness for contact with UVA Hospital Social Workers was needed. A need for lodging for the least able and unscheduled arrivals dictates a response to immediacy, even for late night Ronald McDonald House arrivals. It is such a delight to share this expanded opportunity for those patients and families so desperately in need of extended lodging by dedicated and deeply caring individuals. Please read their websites and learn of the diversity and goals of each charity.  Perhaps this will provide a stimulus to assist in one of the members lodging needs, and if you are located far away from Virginia, think of how you might participate in your own community, just as the collection of non-profits are helping in Charlottesville. Much love to you all, as we start another year of devotion to the least able among us. And, as always, 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 for your support & much love  ...   T. Wade Clegg III & Sam McLawhorn  Founding Members IHS

As You Read this Short Note, it is 2019!

For your information Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. has diligently pursued its objective to support the UVA Medical Center Office of Social Work for the last ten years. The main objective was and is to provide an additional avenue for indigent and/or grossly underfunded patients to have access for immediate temporary lodging, food packets, etc. through a Social Worker when patients and sometimes a caregiver arrive without adequate means and no clinic or agency is prepared for their arrival and/or financial support while preparation is managed within the Office of Social Work. A place to sleep, rest and something to eat remain at the top of the immediate needs of the least able guests who arrive in our community and experience delayed entry for a multitude of reasons. IHS is dependent upon caring friends, hospital staff, churches and periodic grants. Access the IHS website at http://www.interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org; learn the details of this charity's efforts. Ask how you or your family or group can participate... and lift the least able to sustain while visiting UVA Hospital. Thank you so very much for the last ten years of consistent or periodic help with funds for this effort. It is such a worthwhile endeavor . Much love and Happiness as we enter another year of caring.   And, as always, 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 for your support & much love  ...   T. Wade Clegg III & Sam McLawhorn  Founding Members IHS

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other Virginia Commonwealth State Employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) begins October 1, 2018.  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 003648..

Holiday Notes for Friends of the Charity

From: Lashanna Hicks HS, Clinical Social Worker, UVA GEN PEDS Outpatient   Hope all continues to be well. I have an updated count on car seats for the week. As of 11/29/2018 at 11:15 am, we have 0 - Comfy Carry (under 5 lbs), 2 - Cosco Scenera convertible seats (up to 40 lbs.), and 1 - Harmony backless booster (40-100 lbs.) in stock. The last Comfy Carry seat was distributed today.   As always, thanks for everything that all have done and continue to do for us here at UVA and the patients/families we serve. We are forever grateful and appreciative for IHS, Sam, the late Rev. Elisheva' Clegg and of course you, Rev. Thomas Wade Clegg.   Thank you ... Lashanna"   P lease note that IHS received a Federal Express delivery this week within 3 days which consisted of 10 - Comfy Carry car seats. IHS has 3 - Cosco Scenera seats in stock and 2 - Harmony boosters in stock. IHS will purchase more seats as needed during Dece mb er. The Cosco Scenera and Harmony booster items are obtained with ease from a reliable retail Walmart store in Louisa County, Virginia.   For Friends of IHS who may not know of this service for indigent or underfunded parents of infants at UVA Medical Center, IHS has provided a new infant car seat through the UVA Social Work Office for the last eight years when a parent is leaving the hospital and not able to afford purchase of an infant car seat. An infant car seat is a mandatory item for departure of all infants from the Medical Center.   And, as always, 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 for your support & much love  ...   T. Wade Clegg III & Sam McLawhorn  Founding Members IHS

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other Virginia Commonwealth State Employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) begins October 1, 2018.  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 003648..

Happy Thanksgiving 2018

There are two days each year at the UVA Hospitality House when Mary Jackson and staff extend themselves by providing a special meal for outpatients.  The first opportunity is Thanksgiving. About half the rooms are empty during holidays; however, many patients, especially those who are here for cancer treatment, must remain away from home. It is a real delight for these long distance guests to be treated to a special meal by the staff and friends of Hospitality House, Interfaith Humanitarian  Sanctum (IHS) has participated annually for the last ten years in Thanksgiving and/or the Christmas dinner by providing pre-cooked hams and turkeys. This year the Hospitality House directly received several monetary donations for the main items for the Thanksgiving meal.  IHS has continued to stock Hospitality House kitchen needs monthly upon receipt of a detailed e-mail from Supervisor Mary Jackson. The next holiday meal at Hospitality House will be on or about Christmas Day,  Friends of the House and IHS are invited to contact Mary Jackson by calling (434) 924-0000 at the Main Hospital and ask for UVA Hospitality House. Mary will be delighted to discuss what items can be provided directly to the House and best date and time for delivery. Hospitality House is located within blocks from the Medical Center. Monetary donations are also accepted via mail at: IHS P.O. Box 163 Palmyra, VA 22963.  Checks to the charity should be made payable to IHS. Please know that periodically a church or business group will volunteer with meal preparation at the House. Simply relate your wish to participate to Mary Jackson.  She will be delighted to hear your desire to assist with serving and preparation of these special meals. And, as always, 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 for your support & much love  ...   T. Wade Clegg III & Sam McLawhorn  Founding Members IHS