Filling the Gap has Life-Saving Consequences at UVA Medical Center

One charity cannot secure all of the unmet needs at a large medical center, nor can one auction raise enough funds for long-range security of a program for the severely underfunded patients who must come to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville; however, one charity is making that effort, and the upcoming auction with your participation can go a long way for taking the program forward for another year. Before retiring as one of the most respected and long-serving Social Workers of the UVA Health System, Kenneth L. Cady served for 26 years at this revered Hospital. Before retiring in September 2015, Ken wrote this letter to Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS), the totally independent, non-religious, no stock, nonprofit, All-volunteer, 501(c)3, on call 24/7  public charity,  dedicated to the indigent and underfunded patients and caregivers who must come for their treatment from long distances for treatment. His comments regarding the "gap" deserve attention, for the consequences of allowing a single gap to widen can be disastrous.     A Special Message from Kenneth L. Cady "There are few non-profit charities, that I can think of, who are as caring and responsive as the Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) has been and continues to be to the UVA Health System patients and families. The UVA Health System is dedicated to patient care in providing the best available health care possible to all Virginians, and to those from out of state who choose to come here; however, there is a gap that needs to be bridged for our low-income and indigent patients. That gap has to do with patients who need care but cannot get to Charlottesville, or once here, need assistance, many times on very short notice. IHS fills this gap with services such as helping pay for medications, medication co-pays, lodging, transportation and food assistance. That has been extended for several years by providing indigent families through Pediatric Clinics with new infant car seats, and supplemental equipment for the care of the Mother and baby. My coverage area at Fontaine Research Park Clinics has been from rural and small-town Virginia. Patients come from 250-300 miles away, even for primary care services. Many patients are low-income or no income. IHS assistance just with lodging and transportation is significant. I have called IHS for assistance during the day, after normal working hours, during the evening when I worked in UVA Emergency Department. They make themselves available. There is no other charity like it in this area, or in Virginia that I know of. The IHS remain anonymous to most of our patients, which they prefer, as they prefer to work exclusively through UVA Health System Social Workers. That's how unique their services are. They are careful with their funds; they ask good questions first when solicited by Social Workers, and I can attest to that. They do not like to turn requests away, which I find amazing, but they can also come up with good ideas that perhaps does not result in use of their own funds. They are there when you need them for our patients and families. My main wish is that they can stay funded so they can remain a crucial and vital component of the UVA Health System Care Team. As a Social Worker, I cannot thank them enough." Your donation keeps us in rapid response mode! 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

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other Virginia Commonwealth State Employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2015-2016 begins October 1st through December 31, 2015.  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..

IHS Holiday On-Line Auction Begins

The Winter 2015 IHS Auction for Compassion & Hope with Love Opens for Bids on November 27, 2015 Yes - this is a big deal for fundraising which HELPS SAVE LIVES!  Your participation with placement of an item or activity in our first-time on-line auction, and further participation with bidding, quite literally have a dramatic impact on so many. Did you read previously the actual quotes from a University of Virginia  Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center Social Worker?  Although tailored, these thoughts resonate so loudly. Please take this into your heart and allow it to simmer over this Thanksgiving: "The Cancer Center serves a wide variety of patients who travel great distances to receive care they couldn't otherwise access. Their treatment often involves 6-7 weeks of daily radiation therapy in combination with weekly chemotherapy. Our patients are typically exhausted, overwhelmed, and fearful of their course. Many of these patients face severe economic and financial distress as a result of their cancer diagnosis. They use every means possible to get to Charlottesville and then learn that they will need to pay for lodging, meals and gas, during their treatment. Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) has helped alleviate this burden by assisting with  lodging and supplying essential food items for unexpected and unplanned events. To say that IHS helps "save lives"  is an understatement. They have added quality, dignity, and hope to the lives of MANY of our patients and their family members. IHS truly makes a difference  every day. They provide an opportunity and financial means for our patients to succeed in treatment through delivery of specific concrete services. IHS is vital to our Cancer team particularly as we struggle to meet the growing needs of our patient population with few resources." You  can still donate an item as the actual auction begins. Here is the link for registering items to be donated: https://ihs.betterworldcollective.com/auction/items/donate Your donation keeps us in rapid response mode! 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

A Reminder for UVA Medical Center Employees located in the Main Hospital

November 17, 2015 (Tuesday) -   IHS is one of two local charities featured tomorrow  with a table top display in the UVA Medical Center during the  Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC). The IHS display will take place from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM in the hallway adjacent to the Hospital cafeteria. Drop by and say hello to those core volunteers who maintain a 24/7 availability for Social Staff. Remember: A significant part of funds to sustain temporary lodging, food, co-pays and prescriptions for indigent and severely underfunded patients and their caregivers, who must come to Charlottesville for treatment, depends on UVA staff donations through the CVC  program. The CVC code for Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) is 3648. See you tomorrow !

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other Virginia Commonwealth State Employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2015-2016 begins 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..

Another Wonderful Opportunity for Support: IHS On-Line Auction

This announcement is solely offered to stimulate thought for participating in our first ever auction to enhance fundraising for this vital charity which serves the indigent and underfunded patients and caregivers who must come to the University of Virginia (UVA)  Medical Center in Charlottesville for treatment.   Start now!    Think of an item which you own, or which you can provide, for placement into the first Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) auction. This could be paintings, other art items or collectibles;  gift ideas such as a night out in a wonderful restaurant for a family; perhaps a 2-day stay at a nice hotel or resort or B&B for a couple;  perhaps a gift certificate for a vast array of things! Think of something which you would enjoy:  Perhaps a gift of a pair of concert tickets to a popular play or musical event. As I said, the possibilities are numerous! There are really two opportunities to participate:  By donating an item to auction By bidding for items when the auction begins.  The link which follows will describe how to become involved.  Remember - every penny earned from the sale of an item will allow IHS to meet its obligations for temporary support for the least able who MUST travel to Charlottesville for medical care. No one at this charity is paid. Everyone is a volunteer, AND WE ARE ALL DONATING ITEMS FOR THIS AUCTION.  If you have a question, read the linked website or send an e-mail and we will seek to clarify. Here is the link for registering items to be donated: https://ihs.betterworldcollective.com/auction/items/donate Another announcement will  be forthcoming in a week:  Continue to review how YOU can participate. Also,  use that "forward e-mail" below to friends and/or businesses to secure more interest in this opportunity for fundraising to secure the last lifeline for so many patients and family members who come to UVA Medical Center from great distances. Those without means for temporary lodging, food, travel, prescriptions and co-pays, and assistance with pediatric assistance depend on this charity.  NOT EVERYONE WILL MAKE THAT VITAL TRIP FOR A FIRST DIAGNOSIS,   IF THEY CAN NOT FEEL SECURE THAT A PLACE TO SLEEP AND  SOMETHING TO EAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.  Underfunded families sleeping in their cars with little to eat is simply not acceptable. IHS is seeking to secure these families. Your donation keeps us in rapid response mode! 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

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other Virginia Commonwealth State Employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2015-2016 begins 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..

Five Years of Experience - A Social Worker Makes Her Case for IHS

Let's establish the mission for this highly qualified charity which is so very responsive to the entire Social Work staff at the University of Virginia (UVA) Medical Center in Charlottesville. Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) is a totally independent, non-religious, ALL volunteer, no stock, nonprofit, 501(c)3, public charity, which was originated to meet the unmet needs for the indigent and severely underfunded patients and caregivers who must come to UVA Medical Center from considerable distances. Perhaps the word "responsive" takes on a whole new meaning when you realize that this charity's volunteers have been on call to UVA Social Workers 24/7 for almost seven years.   A Letter of Support from Sheila Ahmadi, Clinical Social Worker, UVA Women's Health Clinic "I've been working with IHS for the past five (5) years. They have provided pharmacy co-pay assistance,  infant clothing and infant car seats,  in addition to lodging and food. IHS is always willing to problem solve other needs with social workers which patients and families have, in order to work out favorable outcomes. As an example, IHS in 2014 provided 82 infant car seats for children to travel home in a safe secure environment. These car seats continue to trend upward from three years ago when the Hospital request was for thirty (30). The full-day meal packet program has been instrumental in providing annually between 2,500 - 3,000 individual meal packets which includes food items for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The volunteers who assemble the packets also include touching affirmation notes that personalize these packets. IHS is very unique in the range of services it provides. I personally know that many health care facilities do not have this type of support and would welcome just one-third of this level of support. In conclusion I fully support the work of Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) in seeking funding support to deliver needed assistance to our patients and families. Sincerely ...  Sheila Ahmadi Your donation keeps us in rapid response mode! 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

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other Virginia Commonwealth State Employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2015-2016 begins 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..