Can You Match Timothy's Donation for June?

On May 27th  when I reached into my post office box in Palmyra, there was a single letter with a hand-written note from 6 year -old Timothy Cleveland who lives in the Ivy area of Charlottesville. Also enclosed was a donation of $30.75.

The note said,

Timothy and his mom selling lemonade!

"Dear Rev. Clegg,

Here is some money to help sick people at UVA Hospital. We made the money with our lemonade stand on Saturday. Love, Timothy Cleveland."

The previous Saturday Timothy and his mom Dawn set up their lovely stand and raised funds for IHS to be used for lodging expenses for families and patients in need of a place to stay.

This was the same day that  Margaret Gorman and her neighbors were hosting a yard sale just down the street for the sole purpose of raising additional funds for the charity's hotel bills for the very active months of April - May. Although Margaret is the Food Development Officer for IHS, she never stops coming up with projects to meet total charity needs.

Margaret said that Timothy's lemonade stand was "adorable." Also, as seen in the photo it was easy to spot, not only for refreshments for those neighbors participating in the yard sale, but also for the intended purpose ...and the sweetest possible salesperson.

A big neighborhood thanks to the Kimbrough Circle neighbors who assisted with another donation for the charity at the Gorman home. Other participants for the event's success with an additional $175.00  were Dick and Nancy Erwin, and Bo Berndt. This one neighborhood on the outskirts of Charlottesville continues to excel in the spirit of giving. 

Special Notice to Friends of the Charity

The UVA Hospitality House (HH) has been continuously full during April - May. This trend has not stopped. As I write on June 8th, Ronald McDonald House was full and assistance rendered for placement of a family. Four hotel rooms were booked this day alone. Your assistance is certainly appreciated. Quite literally, we are the only opportunity in these cases. Thanks for your attention.  Please consider matching 6-year old  Timothy's full day of work for "helping the sick people."   Thanks again ...

Blessings ... T. Wade Clegg III

LDS Ladies ... Latest Participants in Food Program

Posted by Margaret Gorman, Meal Packet Development for IHS:

Hard Working Teens

"For their annual service project meeting on May 18, about 60 women and teenage girls of the Charlottesville 2nd Ward Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints included IHS as one of their projects to give comfort and support to people who are going through difficult times. The group is lead by President Cheryl Thompson.

Meetings Coordinator Sharon Zobrist had read in the Crozet Gazette about Boy Scott Troop 79 preparing meal packets last November and offered it up as something the Relief Society might wish to do. Lexie Borg contacted me for information and served as the liaison. Marian Cheney helped with food collection and storage.

Sandy, Sharon, Lexie & Margaret

The Relief Society produced 110 full-day meal packets. They also donated another 49 additional main dish food items. I am told that church members  brought additional food donations that IHS will include in future meal packet assembly sessions over the summer.

A friend  of IHS, Sandy Williams, drove with me to the church in her large van and we joined the women of the Relief Society for a fun and friendly evening. The food filled the van, along with three bags of gently worn children's clothing which will be provided to

Meal Packet Program Items

Social Worker Teresa Bevins for those children who need apparel to replace and supplement clothes which they were wearing when they were admitted to the UVA Pediatric Clinic.

I wish the readers of this e-mail, and subsequent blog entry, could see all the healthy and delicious food that the church provided for making these gallon size zip lock bag full day meal packets. Some items were new to me, such as individual portions of dried pineapple and chicken dinners. The teenagers worked diligently to write friendly supportive messages on hand-made cards that went into all 110 meals, then packed everything in boxes in less than an hour.  That's active coordination!  Our special thanks. Sincerely ... Margaret "

Thanks to everyone who is assisting and planning for summer activities with food and direct donations to IHS to meet our most vibrant categories of support for patients and families, namely lodging and food assistance. More later on other participants making a difference.

When The Options are NONE!

So many of you who receive these e-mails, which are then converted to a blog entry for retention and return for review, have indicated that what is most meaningful is to learn of situations in which real dollars donated go directly for serving real people with immediate needs. 

Please know that privacy is paramount for patients being served by this charity when they arrive in Charlottesville for treatment. It is purposeful that protective measures in writing are in effect with each story.

There is a young woman from across the state who arrives on a midnight bus with her child,  walks to a local hotel, and spends the night.  The next morning she checks out of the hotel, walks to the UVA Medical Center where she is treated. Later that evening she walks back to the bus station for the long ride home.

I can tell you that the trips to Charlottesville have been more frequent. There are at least four more in 2011.  This young woman has no one to keep her child so she can come this long distance; therefore, the child has no choice but to accompany the mother for this vital treatment, which is not available to her at this time near her home town.

Please know that I asked about any possible way that the child might be kept by relatives so that the UVA Hospitality House would be available to her. That option does not exist. The ONLY opportunity for coming for these increasing  trips is when IHS books a hotel room.

This patient and child also have access to those full day Meal Packets organized through Margaret Gorman and kept in supply monthly in the UVA Medical Center Social Work Office.

Of course we worry about keeping the funding active for this individual, and the many others served monthly by this charity.  However, today as I wrote this note I was more concerned that the trips for treatment for this young woman are more frequent, and that bus ride must be taking its toll.

Perhaps it is the company of her small child that makes those night trips bearable. I only know that we will never tell her social worker that her room is not available. 

Thank you for listening ...

Blessings ... T. Wade Clegg III

More Terrific Groups of Kids Lend a Hand!

The Helping Hands Service Club from Murray Elementary School, a group of 15 children, all 3-5th grades, delivered 75 full-day meals, plus 35 snack packets during their visit to the UVA Medical Center on May 4th. Clinical Social Worker Teresa Bevins hosted the group, showed the visitors where their production of meals is stored and answered a host of questions as to the value of their contributions.

Helping Hands was formed with a mission to introduce children about community and world needs, and what they can personally do to make things better. Teresa said that she was impressed with the group’s enthusiasm and desire to add to the Meal Program. She was really delighted to see them arrive for the presentation with their hands full of meal packets.

Jennifer LoCasale-Crouch and Adrienne Kim Bird run the Helping Hands service club. During early April Jennifer and Adrienne began communicating and working with Margaret Gorman who runs the IHS Meal Program. The children did a marvelous job of producing this large bounty, and then learned first-hand from Social Worker Bevins the numerous examples of how the meals will sustain so many caregivers in the hospital.

Girl Scout Cadette Troop 129 from Henley Middle School is presently composed of 11 sixth grade girls (age 12). Jennifer Bryerton and Lynn Bradley are the adults leading the troop, which meets every other Sunday at Olivet Presbyterian Church in Ivy.

Connie Alexander, one of the Troop mothers, delivered Troop 129’s meal production to IHS on May 3rd. The girls produced 20 full-day meal packets and 32 single meal packets.
Lynn Bradley said, “The girls enjoyed planning the contents of the bags, shopping for items and stuffing the bags. We follow the good example of service to the community and feel that this effort is just a small step to help those who are recuperating or tending to sick loved ones at UVA Medical Center.”

First United Methodist Preschool in Charlottesville organized the 14 kids in the class for a very special first-time project. Each child was assigned the task of making one complete meal packet and the opportunity to make a card to insert into the complete packet. The class is composed of 3 and 4 year olds. The group must have involved their teachers, since the “one Child, One Packet” project delivered 16 complete full-day meals to Margaret Gorman.

Paige Lindblom, the school director, along with organizing teachers Megan Bisset and Mary K. Carroll, were proud of the children’s enthusiasm. Erin Rothman, whose son Elliott was one of the workers, produced a full meal packet for the project. Erin related that when she told Elliott about the idea, he helped her do all the shopping, including picking out the foods he thought would be healthy and good.

Thanks to everyone involved above. Your joint productivity has met our needs for May!

Blessings ... T. Wade Clegg III

Why This Charity Is So Important!

Some days are simply more treasured than others. This was such a day, May 4, 2011. I went to the post office in Palmyra and found two letters in our box. One was that ever faithful monthly check from a small Catholic Church in Abingdon, Virginia. The other was a handwritten letter on lined paper, and folded multiple times, so as to keep it secret until opened.

On the outside in large letters the words:

 "Thank You with Prayers and Appreciation and Love."

"Dear Rev. T. Wade Clegg,

   Our family would like to thank you for furnishing us a motel room. If  it weren't for you renting us that room in Charlottesville, VA, we would have not got to make the 6 hour trip there. My Mother nor I would have got to get to see our doctors. We also have a 2-year old and a 4-year old that has to make the trips with us. So we would like to say THANK YOU and MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU ALL. With all the prayers and appreciation for this. Thank you.  Me and my whole family."

(This letter is signed by each member, even the pre-schoolers)

In the almost three years since we began this effort, this is only the second personal note from someone who has received assistance. That is because IHS is not known by recipients. In this case, the recipient wanted to know from the social worker who to thank.  Today was another pay day for all of us, including all the volunteers, donors, scouts and Sunday schools who make it possible for this family and so many others to have lodging and food. If not available, quite simply these trips would be postponed and vital treatment neglected.

This is why this charity is so very important.

Blessings ... T. Wade Clegg III

Never Too Young to be a Member of a Giving Team

Daisy Troop 360 Hard at Work Two groups of energetic young ladies from Earlysville, Virginia added to the production of full-day meal packets this month. Dawn Cleveland, an active volunteer working with Margaret Gorman (IHS's Meal Packet Program Director), received a total of 24 more packets from their March activities. Twelve (12) packets came from the Earlysville Children's Garden. The working group was composed of 12 children, ages 2-5. Each child made a card with a heart with their thumbprints and their name. As each recipient opens their meal packet from the Children's Garden, they will be greeted warmly with well wishes. Twelve (12) packets came from Daisy Troop 720, Broadus Wood Elementary School in Earlysville. There were 13 girls participating, ages 6-7. Individual handmade cards were also placed in each packet. A Special Message Card A special thanks to Children's Garden and Daisy Troop 720. These contributions will be included in the late April and early May deliveries to UVA Medical Center Social Work Program. If you know anyone living in Earlysville, please click on "forward this e-mail" below, and allow others in that community to know how much their young people are helping others in need.  If you know of other children's groups who would like to participate in the Meal Packet Program, information is as close as an e-mail to Margaret Gorman for guidance. Update on April Meal Packet Delivery On April 15th IHS delivered 136 full-day meal packets to Teresa Bevins, and restocked the Social Work Office food cabinet. The meal packets are accessed by  all UVA Medical Center Social Workers as needed to eliminate hunger for caregivers, and any out-patients who may need assistance during prolonged out- patient treatment stays at the hospital. Blessings ... T. Wade Clegg III

IHS Gives Thanks to the Meal Makers

It is really a good feeling to know that full-day meal packets for April delivery to the UVA Medical Center Social Work food program is almost complete. Each month is an individual challenge, but so much of the food program load is now being balanced due to the enthusiastic participation of several scout, church and neighborhood groups. A big THANK YOU to the following participants ....

Cub Scout Pack 183 and Boy Scout Troop 3 in Louisa:

Teamed up for a tremendously productive Meal Packet Service Project. Their joint efforts provided 136 completed full-day packets, plus a large collection of assorted items.

Some key players in this project, and on-going scout activities, were Jim Snider, Pack 183 Cub Master; Harry Quarles, Troop 3 Scout Master; Karen Sewell, Pack 183 Committee Chair; and Wolf Den Assistant Brad Baber. The Food Lion at Lake Anna also donated to the project in order to purchase extra items to complete this large donation.

Tina Schweikart, Wolf Cub Leader and her son Connor (pictured to the right), a wolf, delivered their bounty to IHS Founding Member T. Wade Clegg III on March 27th. The photo shows Rev. Clegg and Cub Scout Connor Schweikart transferring boxes into vehicles.

Cub Scout Pack 206:

Under the guidance of Robin Kaczka, added to the March meal packet collection. Robin said, "We charged an entry fee to our Blue and Gold Banquet which was a food donation item. Each den was assigned a portion of the meal packet."

Cub Scout Pack 206 meets at Hollymead Elementary School and their Charter Organization is the Hollymead Parent Teacher Organization. They have 50 registered scouts from 1st grade through 5th grade. For more information the Pack 206 website is www.cubpack206.org.

Thanks to Sue Hietanen of Charlottesville, whose son is long grown and graduated from Boy Scouting, but she and her husband are still volunteers. Sue heard Margaret Gorman's presentation about the IHS Food Packet Program in December and decided to put together food packets on her own. Sue and a friend made 25 full-day meals for pickup this past week to add to the April delivery. She noted that there are so many problems in our world that we cannot solve, but helping out the people served by IHS is something we can do.

For those of you planning on participation and in need of contact, please send your e-mail to info@interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org as first recipient during the first two weeks in April. Margaret Gorman will be on a much deserved vacation with her family until about April 10th.

If you are too far away for making and delivering meal packets, please know that funds are used to supplement meal quotas each month as needed, or used for IHS's continuing need for securing lodging for UVA Medical Center outpatients and caregivers who come from great distances without funds to balance their stay.

And finally...

Last week IHS delivered an infant car seat and baby clothes for a one-year old which had not a stitch of clothes at the hospital or at home and was being released. These are always last minute needs, of course. As this note is being released, we received another call and have scheduled tomorrow a purchase of another infant seat and a stroller for a child from a family which has neither. This is what we do...because of YOU!

Blessings ...T. Wade, Elisheva & Sam