Fluvanna County Virginia Support Is Growing!

Multiple meetings with churches has been encouraging Summer contacts with a diversity of religious groups has been very productive. Congregation support generally comes through Mission and Outreach Committees, who are briefed on IHS's efforts to support the underfunded and indigent patients and caregivers who must come to UVA Medical Center from great distances for treatment. Once a Committee or Pastoral staff has details, then the full congregation is exposed for discussions which can lead to both funding assistance and participation in  IHS meal packet program. An Important Reminder Effort Baptist Church, Palmyra UVA Medical Center is a vital provider for residents of Fluvanna County.  There are so many personal ties to the main hospital or UVA satellite clinics.  In fact during every visit to a church or community group someone who is employed by the Medical Center has approached us with a warm greeting. This silent charity's very deliberate exposure is slowly finding enthused participants. A very large contingent of medical professionals reside at Lake Monticello. The IHS storage and meeting office is located at 105 Crofton Place, just outside the Lake community for ease of placement for physical donations such as meal packets. An early call for a meeting or drop-off can be secured with a phone call to (434) 589-4864 or by e-mail to  ihsanctum@gmail.com. A Special Note of Thanks to New Fluvanna Friends ... churches, businesses and individuals Grace & Glory Lutheran, Palmyra Effort Baptist Church at Highway 53 & Lake Monticello Road. Lisa Himes has served as the prime contact. The church donated $1,000 in June and followed up with a delivery of 50 full-day meal packets in July by medical professional Laurie Brock. Grace and Glory Lutheran Church along Highway 53 in Palmyra.  Jan Crowther has served as the prime contact. Jan delivered at total of 95 full-day meal packets during July and August. Donations also arrived from: The Cagle Family, owners of MAKCO INC. The Justin Wade Family, Accounting firm in Crofton Place Michael & Terry Hocevar  at Lake Monticello A Final Note As always, the summer months are among the slowest periods for receipt of meal packet production and donations. Help us get into a surge of activity for the final months of 2014. Access and download the revised Guide for introducing your church, school, club, scout troop, or family to this very valuable program for the least able visitors who must come to our community for medical support. Being hungry must not be an added burden upon arrival. For your convenience, the direct secure donation website link is provided below. Please feel free to use it for a secure connection to the IHS Donation Fund site for comfortable, private, safe and easy on-line donations.   T. Wade, Elisheva & Sam    IHS Founding Officers

IHS Email to Friends - July 27, 2014 (Correction)

I will make this short, but we do need your help. Most certainly this note is not for those who are already doing what you can. I know it sounds like a cliché or the same old thing as usual; however, we don't make direct requests with any frequency. Most newsletters are for reporting unmet needs and who is lending a hand. Staying ahead these days is truly challenging. We have a very real need for advance purchase of infant car seats. We've made more purchases this year versus last year at this time. The need to remain ahead when a Pediatric request is called is vital. We must seek to increase quantity purchases, versus a few at a time. Of even more concern has been the steady increase in costs for each unit. For those of you who have babies, you know well what the least expensive car seat can cost, and we do receive significant discounting with quantity purchases. As to lodging, we informed you that the UVA Hospitality House (HH) had to increase their fees from $1.00 to $10.00/night. It does not take a mathematical wizard to understand that those who did not have one dollar most assuredly do not have $10.00. HH is only a 30 room (60 bed) guest facility for a very large institution. When HH fills (which is frequently), the only alternative which is our responsibility is commercial. Hotel rooms before IHS began were not even a consideration for those we serve. When a social worker cannot establish lodging, the least able among us CAN NOT COME FOR TREATMENT. That is the stark reality, and why this note has such meaning. As to the food packages, we are still delivering between 250-300 full-day meal packages per month to the UVA Hospital Social Workers. We are one of the major suppliers of the UVA Hospitality House (HH) with their food needs and other items (laundry powder, paper products, etc.). The difference here is that food prices have increased steadily as well and the amount of people with unmet needs coming to UVA Medical Center has increased. By the way, another unmet need, because of reduced nonprofits who were dedicated to long distant travel, will mean more bus or train or gas cards to serve those who must come to Charlottesville for treatment. What has NOT increased is availability of grants and donations. We count ourselves so fortunate that Bama Works in CACF and J & E Berkley Foundation have been so consistent. According to the news media, donations to nonprofit organizations are down by at least 35% this year. Even the state payroll deduction program (Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign) for charitable contributions has decreased every year for three straight years. Our sustained growth depends on individuals, groups and church participation and sustained grants from present supporters. Whether once or twice annually, consistency is so important for a never ending need. Again, we do not ask lightly for support unless it is truly needed. 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.   A Sincere Appeal ...T. Wade, Elisheva & Sam                                  IHS Founding Officers