Every Day Allows for Giving Thanks

It's good to have a dedicated holiday to gather with friends and family.  All of us need a set-aside day to sit across the table and renew the bonds which bind. Sometimes it is that set-aside day which allows people to have time to travel. Sometimes people find themselves traveling away from home with far too few funds to support themselves, but their duty to themselves or a loved one must take priority.    Students push meal packets boxes up ramp, but one slipped off. Student shouted "Drop Zone!" Those people being served by Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. have come to Charlottesville, Virginia with an abundance of hope. They are being treated for a very serious medical problem, or they are here as the closest  family member or caregiver,  waiting and hoping for a loved one's recovery.  Our purpose is dedicated to making sure that to the degree it is possible to offer temporary assistance as they establish a plan forward to balance their further need for lodging, food, co-pays and travel.  There are many in this community, inside and outside the UVA Medical Center, who are passionately dedicated to the welfare of these patients and families. To all of you who are among that Fraternal Order of Giving, we are so very thankful to be blessed with this opportunity to help secure these patients and families, mostly indigent, in a time of desperation. For those who have donated to IHS and other charities, YOU ARE THAT CRITICAL DIFFERENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO FUNCTION AND  FULFILL  OUR PURPOSE.  Thank you for Giving. A Very Special Class of Donors visited UVA Medical  Center last week Waiting for elevators up to UVA Social Office On November 15th a middle size yellow school  bus arrived at 12:15 PM at the UVA Medical Center's rear loading dock.  A space was  reserved  next to the rear entrance ramp for parking. The Henley Middle School Functional Skills Class, their teacher Amy Hovis, and several aids had arrived with the final boxes of full day meal packets from the past month's project at Henley Middle School in Crozet. That project and photos of their grocery store shopping spree is featured in IHS blog entry on October 28, 2011. The Skills Class has been instrumental in raising funds, purchasing food items and then assembling with other  students in a school project which produced more than 322 full day meal packets. The final 49 meals were delivered personally during the class's visit to the Medical Center Social Office. Clinical Social Worker Teresa Bevins lead the group to the special storage area  where the meals are maintained for access to all social workers for caregivers in their sections, especially in Pediatrics.  Ms. Bevins also Everyone gathered for a photo before leaving Social Office spent time explaining the procedures and benefits of the program , and how the class's donations are immediately available and used daily.  She indicated that no less than 100-150 meals are needed every two weeks. UVA Medical Center has been a special part of the lives of these particular students, and many saw professional staff whom they recognized just during the trip up and back to the Social Office.  To these marvelously giving students who understand the value of medical professionals, as former patients, and wanted to experience the completion of their  purchases and assembly sessions, right to the source where the need is fulfilled,  this visit was truly meaningful. Blessings ...  from all of us at IHS and our supporters

A Terrific November ... thanks to so many!

It is so gratifying to know that we are able to be a part of the safety net for UVA Medical Center patients and families who come from such distances, often not knowing where they will sleep or eat. As you know, we can't be specific with details for privacy reasons. Perhaps it helps to know that one situation, which tends to happen frequently, provides an example of IHS being the only source available to assist. A mother and baby are transferred from another hospital at a great distance to UVA Medical Center where the baby is entered into the NICU (Neo-intensive Care Unit).  Both Mother and baby arrive in a medical vehicle.   Parents are not allowed to remain in the NICU with their babies, and upon arrival the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) was completely full.  It so happened that UVA Hospitality House was also full.  When social worker MT called in mid-afternoon, it was evident that neither facility would have an opening that night, and this very stressed out mother had no funds to cover her needs while in Charlottesville.  IHS places this mother in a commercial hotel within a short walk to the hospital and she is told of the full day meal packets available to her through her social worker. A room in Hospitality House opens within one day, and the day after she is placed in Ronald McDonald House. Problem solved ...thanks to friends who contribute to strengthening the safety net. Speaking of full day meals ... IHS received lots of help from a lot of kids this past month Louisa County Cub Scout Pack 183, led by Jim Snider, organized and completed an assembly of 60 full-day meal packets (and a couple of boxes of extra items for use in further IHS assembly sessions) which were delivered  on October 30th.  Pack 183 is made up of 1st-5th grade boys. Den responsibilities are rotating, with Shonda Brooks, Webelos 1 Den leader, and Tina Schweikart, Bears Den 5 leader, organizing this go-around. Also invited  to participate this past month was Louisa Boy Scout Troop 183, lead by Jim Harlow. This troop is all high school age boys. The older group supplied all paper products, ziplock bags, utensils and a large box of oat meal for delivery to UVA Hospitality House. They also joined the pack meeting to help assemble the total packets.  Tina related that it's a wonderful way for the older boys to help mentor the young boys, especially the Tiger age group, plus contribute to a wonderful community service project. Thanks Louisa! Thanks also to Brownie Troop 1234 of Charlottesville area for their November 2nd donation of 25 full-day meal packets and 24 snack packs. The leaders reported that they were happy to give true service with no reward or prizes other than the good feeling one has when doing something for others. When these combined scout sessions were completed, and all items combined, IHS will be able to secure two more weeks for food supplies for social worker needs in November and December.  THANKS TO ALL! Thanksgiving and IHS participation! Thanksgiving around the Table with Family Elisheva and I will be celebrating Thanksgiving in Los Angeles with our son and his wife and the expected baby to arrive on Thanksgiving Day.  It is our first trip in many years,  but an important family event.  Just sharing, since Sam McLawhorn will be monitoring the phones and e-mails, and making a meal delivery to the hospital when called.   However, before leaving this Sunday, please know that we stopped by Kroger Market in Barracks Road Shopping Center and secured a large turkey and ham to be prepared for delivery to UVA Hospitality House for those patients and families who must remain for further treatment over the holidays. For friends of the charity within the Charlottesville area, please know that Mary Jackson and her staff do marvelous things for their guests, and IHS is so pleased to make it more enjoyable. IF YOU LIVE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE AREA, AND WANT TO ADD TO THE FOOD NEEDS OVER A VERY LONG WEEKEND FOR ABOUT 30 HOSPITALITY HOUSE GUESTS ... PLEASE CALL MARY JACKSON AND ASK WHAT ITEMS SHE NEEDS TO MAKE THANKSGIVING EATING STRETCH FOR MANY DAYS FOR MANY PEOPLE.  Her number is 924-5722.  She will indicate what is needed and where to bring your food contribution. Hold the presses -  another assembly party just last night, November 15th. Here is the note from Adult Leader Scott Sims.  "17 Young Men and Young Women from the Rivanna Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a very uplifting experience compiling 100 meal packets for IHS.  Several months of planning and purchasing food for these packets resulted in a fun-filled, inspiring activity where these youth were able to provide this great service to our Charlottesville community. Thanks to Youth leaders Brandon Mantell and Brianna Ashby for leading the charge, and adult leaders Forrest Johnson, Johanna Johnson, Miquelle Crosland, and Scott Sims. The church website is www.lds.org.   The Rivanna Ward Youth thanks IHS for all you do and for providing this opportunity to serve. " Blessings to all of you and yours ... T. Wade and Elisheva Clegg

Make a Difference Day at Henley School will feed hungry over many weeks!

Personal Notes from Margaret Gorman, IHS Meal Packet Coordinator   Life Skills class arrives at Big Lots for shopping spree J.T. Henley Middle School in Crozet, Virginia participated in "Make a Difference Day" by making meal packets for IHS. There's not enough room to tell you about all the ways the students participated, but for part of the story you can read a nice article by Bryan McKenzie from the Saturday, Oct. 21 Charlottesville Daily Progress newspaper (link to this article is below). I'd like to add that two girls raised $125 in a bake sale that we used to purchase food.  Harris Teeter Grocery Store in Crozet donated $50 and let us borrow two grocery carts that we are using for collecting donations and for moving food to various classrooms where the students assemble the meals. Students gave up free time to go to Ms. Effland's classroom to make greeting cards. About 20 students helped Margaret Gorman conduct a semi-scientific study to compare the efficiency and accuracy of two methods of assembling meal packets: piecemeal construction vs. the assembly line. The results suggest that Henry Ford had a good idea when he invented the automobile assembly line. Eighth grade students will receive community service credit for their help. Everyone who participated had a good time and knew they were providing valuable assistance to people who are going through a tough time. Two happy shoppers with longest grocery receipt in Big Lots day! I can't tell you enough about how much I appreciate the time and effort the Life Skills class put in to shopping, assembling meals and creating cards. The grocery receipt they produced on their shopping trip to Big Lots was about seven feet long.  One photo shows happy Life Skills class students displaying their large purchase. We want to express great appreciation to the J.T. Henley community for their success in this huge effort. Amy Effland, Amy Hovis and Teresa Goodin organized the effort. Susan Guerrant, Chuck Miller and Kevin Murphy provided great financial support, advise on logistics and publicity. The custodial staff collected nice boxes for packing the meals. The front office fielded questions and collected the donations for us. Maureen Russell gave her art classes the time and resources to produce beautiful greeting cards. Students filled three shopping carts with heaps of IHS food packet products. Enjoy reading the article, and contact us if you'd like to know more about how to participate. The 322 full day meal packets assembled by Henley Middle School is a new one-time assembly project record for an IHS contribution. Thank you Henley! Here is the direct link to the Daily Progress article: http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2011/oct/21/mckenzie-henley-goes-big-make-difference-day-ar-1400876/

A Story Worth Repeating

The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2011 for state workers, asked IHS to submit a very short story which depicts situations we encounter. This one story came quickly to mind. There are many more to tell, but this repeating situation is emotional for all of us, and stands forth as to why IHS's existence has such merit. During the month of October, you can visit the CVC website at http://www.cvc.vipnet.org and visit "Making a Difference." As short stories appear, potential state worker donors can click on "Read more" and they will read the story below. For friends of IHS, we wanted to share this one example of this charity's impact. Blessings ... T. Wade The woman on the midnight bus There is a young woman who arrives every month or two on the late Greyhound bus in Charlottesville. She walks with her child to a hotel near the UVA Medical Center. She saves every penny, not using a taxi even at this late hour. She is coming for cancer treatment the following day. Since she has no one at home in northern Virginia to keep her child and UVA Hospitality House restricts guests with children under age 18, her social worker meets her need for lodging and food through a close working relationship with a very responsive charity.    Without pre-planning to secure her stay, this indigent patient could not make these trips to secure her hold onto life and a long life with her child. Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. (IHS) works closely with UVA social workers to meet temporary "unmet" needs for indigent patients and family members. While others are sleeping, IHS is also available 24/7 to UVA social workers with immediate needs which are not being met from any other source. We are a CVC charity. To support the work of Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc., designate your gift to CVC 3648.

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other state employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2011 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.

October Events to Date Have Provided Wonderful Exposure!

Notes from Margaret Gorman, IHS Meal Packet Coordinator IHS Yard Sale a success Oct. 8, 2011 in Ivy area of Charlottesville, VA Kimbrough Circle Yard Sale for IHS I won't complain about spending a beautiful October day outside.  Alyson Ball, a good friend of IHS, and I filled the driveway with donations from friends and neighbors, the Cleggs and from our own homes. Alyson suggested we ask for donations instead of haggling over prices, so that we could focus on communicating with our shoppers about IHS. We were rewarded-- $550 and many new contacts. I am hopeful that we will hear from some of them about performing service projects that will help the caregivers and outpatients at the UVA Medical Center. Thanks to Alyson and John Ball, Mike Gorman and Patrick Gorman (who got out of bed unbearably early to move tables). Thanks to the Tillys, Bo Berndt, the Allisons and Missy Lynn for their donations of yard sale items and to the Kimbrough Circle neighbors who gave generous donations for the items they hauled away. Thanks also to Sandy and Alice Williams who set up a companion yard sale that enticed many people to our yard sale. Alice was also one of our best customers; I believe most of the profits from her sale ended up in our donation box when she hauled off bags of books and an outfit to wear to an upcoming Japanese Anime convention. Follow up to Kroger days Oct. 1-2, 2011 IHS distributed information and collected donations of food and money from shoppers at the Kroger Grocery Store at Barracks Road Shopping Center in Charlottesville on Saturday and Sunday.   Barracks Road Kroger Charlottesville with UVA Venture Group Helping the Cause Venture Scouts from Crew 1819, Boy Scouts of America, of the University of Virginia returned Saturday morning from a frigid camping trip to give their support. The female members of the crew displayed their skill from Girl Scout cookie selling days. Crew leader, John, made sure everyone was well fed. It was a beautiful autumn day and the University was hosting a home football game, so that atmosphere was brisk and festive. On Sunday, the high school youth group of longtime IHS supporter, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church, Unitarian Universalist, came to help. The weather had changed, so these young people had to bundle up against cold and wind, but they were fortified with bagels and good company. They clipped coupons from the Sunday ad insert for the local newspaper and then warmed up by shopping for microwave soups, stews, and other meal packet items. We met a lot of very nice, concerned shoppers and came away with a trunk full of food and enough cash to pay for several hotel rooms. Thank you to everyone who helped, and a big Thank You to Katie Runkle and to Kroger for inviting us to set up our display and collection site. Notes from T. Wade and Elisheva Clegg Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) Charity Fair, Richmond, Oct. 4, 2011 Charlottesville area was not scheduled this 2011 kickoff season with a charity fair for state workers to consider which charities are still active and who is new as approved charities for state worker donations. The kickoff date was October 1, 2011. 2011 CVC Donation Campaign The closest venue for meeting state workers was hosted in Richmond, and IHS set up a display in the James Monroe Building on 14th Street, just a few blocks from the Capitol. IHS functions solely to meet the unmet needs of outpatients and caregivers who must travel from all over Virginia to take advantage of one of two state hospitals with state-supported discount opportunities. UVA Medical Center is one of those hospitals; therefore, IHS is serving Virginians state wide by paying for lodging, food, co-pay, prescriptions and travel (as requested). The chance to meet state workers who are not related to UVA Health Services was a pleasure and hopefully will draw contributions for our role in serving the indigent population from every district of the state. Thanks to CVC Director Anne Dinterman, and Program Assistant Melissa New, for their helpful direction and assistance for this new addition (IHS) to the CVC list of charities. The theme this year is "Give from the Heart in 2011."  The CVC website for locating Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. Code 3648 is www.cvc.vipnet.org.

Quick Review of Opportunities to Support IHS THIS WEEK and NEXT!

Personal notes from Margaret Gorman in Charlottesville

Note # 1 : Come meet us this weekend outside the Kroger Market at Barracks Road Shopping Center in Charlottesville on Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2 from about 10 am to 3 pm.

Our thanks go to Katie Runkle of Kroger for giving us this opportunity to distribute information about IHS and to ask for donations of food and funds.

On Saturday we hope to be joined by members of the new Boy Scouts of America Venture Crew 1819 of the University of Virginia. Seven members of the newly-formed Venturing Crew #1819 assembled 28 meal packets as a service project at their September 20 meeting at the University of Virginia. The Venture Crew is a group of University students who want to do service work as part of the Boy

UVA Venturing Crew #1819

Scouts of America's program for young men and women.

  (http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Venturing.aspx)

On Sunday the grades 11 and 12 youth group of Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church- Unitarian Universalist will join us for this outreach and fund-raising project. Most of the group will be wearing  the IHS logo for ease of identification, as they hand out the IHS shopping list.

We hope Kroger shoppers will use our IHS grocery list to buy food for meal packets that we can assemble onsite. We'd like to meet you too. Please come by to make your contribution and sign a greeting card for the person who will receive your meal packet.

Note # 2 :  Save the Date of Saturday, October 8, 8 am - 2 pm. HUGE Yard Sale!

If you are a yard sale fan, plan on coming out to Ivy, VA for a HUGE neighborhood yard sale. IHS is going to participate, along with at least 15 families. Our sale includes a motorcycle helmet, clothes, new books and gifts, toys, housewares, and so on. Our neighbors are selling furniture, antiques, dvd's, musical instruments and more.

Directions from Charlottesville: 250 West to Ivy. Right  onto Owensville Road. Go 0.7 mile, then right onto Kimbrough Circle. Look for signs and balloons!

Final Reminder: 

The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) Charity Fair for state employees on October 4th in Richmond.  T. Wade and Elisheva Clegg will be manning the IHS table at the James Monroe Building, 101 N. 14th Street, first floor, from 10 am - 1 pm. IHS is now represented on the state website directly at www.vcv.vipnet.org . The IHS code is 3648. There are no Charlottesville area CVC Fairs scheduled to date, so stop by and visit us in Richmond next Tuesday.

There Is Vitality About September ....

A Really Big Opportunity for IHS begins this month   

The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2011 kicks off later this month, officially on October 1st.  Their website is as follows: www.cvc.vipnet.org. Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. (IHS) is listed for the first time. Our CVC code is 3648.

For those who are not familiar with this marvelous opportunity in Virginia, the Campaign is the workplace giving program for state employees. State employees number into the thousands, and that includes those professionals who work for the University of Virginia.

Each state employee can start payroll deduction giving at any time during the year, but the big thrust for becoming acquainted with eligible charities begins at the end of this month. State employees have the option to give to a single charity or as many as four charities.

Although there are no local charity fairs for introducing new charities scheduled for Charlottesville, IHS founding members, Elisheva and T. Wade Clegg III, will attend the CVC Fair on October 4th at the James Monroe Building in Richmond from 10 AM - 1 PM.
 
If you or a friend or colleague is a Virginia state employee, tell a friend that this public charity, solely dedicated to serving the indigent population for temporary assistance with lodging, food and co-pays who come to the University of Virginia Medical Center, needs support to sustain our program as the "go to" charity when no other resources are available. Look for the IHS table and banner in the Monroe Building on October 4th, and allow us to acquaint you with this vital program to meet "unmet needs"  for patients and families who travel from all areas of Virginia to be served by the UVA Medical Center.  This charity is the only 24/7 resource available to UVA Social Staff. And we are all volunteers.
 
The theme for this year's Campaign is "Give from the Heart."  This slogan goes well with our saying which is often placed into full day meal packets, along with personal notes from those who assemble food packets:  "You don't have to know someone to be a friend."  Giving from the Heart is the only contagion we wish to see unleashed by those who can share with those who are in need.

Notes from Margaret Gorman, Meal Packet Coordinator

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian-Universalist in Charlottesville held an intergenerational gathering this past Saturday, September 10th. They assembled 100 full day meal packets as their outreach project for the day's theme of "Cultivating Connections."

About twenty-five people from 5 years old to Seniors participated. They all expressed great satisfaction with this worthwhile and fun project. The children particularly expressed desires to eat some of the delicious foods, but they understood the greater need of the packets' recipients for the nutrition.

The cases of meals and individual meal packets decorated the front of the sanctuary for Sunday worship on September 11th. These meals will be delivered to the UVA Medical Center this week with best wishes and hope for friendship and comfort.  The church now has a display table and information sheet-shopping list for members and friends to use so that they can fill a large wooden box in the entry hall with donations that will go for creating more meal packets.

Other Helping Hands in the Charlottesville area this month ...

Also adding to the next delivery, a big thank you to The Red Roof Inn Sales Department, just across from the UVA Medical Center.  The hotel has a IHS meal packet display in the lobby and an invitation to guests to either donate food articles while in town for their personal staff assembly program, or donate funds directly to IHS. Last week I picked up 11 meal packets from Red Roof Inn. That's 11 full day meal packets of total nourishment! Thanks to Wilson and Lisa for your heartfelt involvement.

On September 12th Susan Erno called to ask where she could drop off a box of meal packets.  That was eight more complete full day packets. Susan learned of the program from the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist. Thanks Susan!

High school student Angela L. used her money earned from baby-sitting to buy granola bars and juice that were used in meal packets recently.  Thanks Angela!

And finally,  thanks to this charity's most consistent monthly donors from day one, three years on-going. Cassandra and Norman Pope McElvy drove up from Asheville, NC last week for a few days with friends. They spent one afternoon at Sam's Club shopping for items for use in assembling meals. Their afternoon of very deliberate shopping for the charity resulted in items for almost 40 complete meals.  Thanks so much for your supportive visit. PLEASE COME AGAIN!

In Closing ...

To all of you who are helping us help others, thanks for giving from your hearts. If you or a friend needs our guidance sheet for making zip lock full day meals, and ideas to incorporate for having a really fun time, just send an e-mail to info@interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org.

Love ...  US