Their Music is Great ... Their Generosity THE Sweetest!

We received another wonderful boost for the IHS Food Program with a late December grant from the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF).  A check for $10,000 arrived in the mail in late December. Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) is one of sixty-one (61) organizations receiving $400,700 in grant awards in this last cycle. Feeling so very thankful The Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in CACF has supported our requests consistently for three (3) straight years. This represents a total of $28,000! With this latest dedicated grant to supplement the food requests for UVA Hospitality House (HH) and for purchases of food for meal-making of full-day meal packets used inside the hospital by social staff for underfunded outpatients and their caregivers, there will be stability in IHS food budget for 2014. This grant has a tremendous impact on two distinctive food programs For the Full-day Meal Packets accessed by Social Workers in the Hospital ... The benchmark continues to be about 2,500 meal packets annually at UVA. That could jump up to 3,000 meal packets quickly. The balance of needing grant money for keeping the supply ready for twice monthly deliveries (200-250 packets monthly) depends on the number of community groups, such as scouts, church classes and congregations, schools, clubs and families, who are making meal packets. 2,500 packets doesn't sound like a large quantity, until you realize that each packet contains about six dollars in food for a full day of nutrition. Therefore, this minimum of 2,500 has an investment value of $15,000. In the year 2013 the community groups bought and made 1,311 packets. This represented $7,866. For the UVA Hospitality House (HH) this charity is the most reliable provider of food ... The Manager of HH e-mails a list of needed items twice monthly, about half of which are perishable. Therefore, actual funds are needed to shop and deliver within hours of a purchase. For the last three months of 2013, the average monthly purchase was $380. Some months the purchase can be about $550.  The expectation for 2014 is for no less than $6,000 for HH. Hopefully in 2014 more groups who wish to supplement HH needs for non-perishable items can call or e-mail and ask what is needed.  Remember - at any one time those 30 HH rooms can be filled with a large number of guests who simply cannot afford to visit nearby restaurants. To the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band Committee ... Thank you for allowing this core group of volunteers that cushion of funds to feed the least able visitors to our community.   Sincerely ... All of IHS,  the UVA Social Staff and UVA Hospitality House staff

Case in Point: Why This Charity Still Makes a Difference

Time: 2 AM on a Monday. Call from overnight Social Worker that child arrived with a mother accompanied by her parents, low on funds, long distance travel, surgery now scheduled later in morning. Following conversation with Social Worker, room was immediately booked for family in a local hotel.   Note from Social Worker by e-mail:     "Thanks much! The parents looked exhausted. I feel much better that they are not driving. They were very appreciative." Sometimes our week begins very early, as noted above. Emergency arrivals can't wait for normal hours. Your support as a friend of IHS makes it possible for a UVA Medical Center Social Worker to call the only 24/7 responder for immediate assistance.   Just sharing. Sincerely ... T. Wade Clegg III

Special Treatment Center for Children needs IHS Help. It is Wish List we wanted to share ...

IHS has been asked to consider a method whereby Virginia's only  comprehensive 48-bed psychiatric facility for children and Adolescents, located in Staunton, Virginia, can be extended a separate "umbrella" status for temporary needs unique to their client's situations. IHS was formed to serve underfunded (indigent) patients and caregivers who travel for treatment at UVA Medical Center, the state's premier teaching hospital. It is a totally non-religious, ALL volunteer, independent public charity which seeks to meet specific unmet needs through a close working relationship with Hospital Social Workers. Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum's incorporation charter allows for extending a helping hand for the underfunded population being treated in another state hospital; however, no funds for support at UVA Medical Center through grants or private donors will be mixed for support of CCCA.  A separate bank account for CCCA donations is being established, and in the forthcoming year IHS will explore grants which relate to mental health support for CCCA. The new Director of Community Services at the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents (CCCA) is Noel Dianas-Hughes, formerly Manager of Social Work at UVA Medical Center.  Noel visited IHS staff in mid-October and discussed her concerns, with the hope that IHS could work with CCCA's Community Service Office to stimulate more statewide awareness, especially in and around the home of CCCA in Staunton. She also came with a Wish List.    CCCA  serves the entire Commonwealth as the only state facility for acutely mentally/behaviorally ill children between ages 4 through 17 who require acute inpatient psychiatric hospitalization.  These inpatients admitted to the Center are in crisis in their current environment. CCCA did not have an independent public charity to reach out to potential donors or serve as a conduit for donations for specific "unmet" needs. Our objective of weaving a stronger safety net for immediate emergency situations can encompass this assistance to CCCA, as  described.  Whether short or extended affiliation is needed will be determined in cooperation with CCCA Office of Community Service, including which areas of support need a charity's participation.  Thank you from ALL of us who rally behind each other ... AND SHARE.        Review CCCA's  Wish List below:   Two-four recliners for the CCCA lobby for parents who get stuck and motels in Staunton are full.  Recliners must be in leather or faux leather, new or used, for ease of cleaning.     48 single bed size comforters, preferably in solid colors, would be so helpful for each child's bed.  Comforters should be new, washable. Can be lightweight.     IHS staff has ordered/ paid a wholesale manufacturer for delivery to CCCA a total of 40 teddy bears (11"-12" high).  This item was obtained for immediate use for seasonal presentation to the very young children being placed at CCCA.  IHS can generally negotiate price consideration, buy wholesale without tax and seek free shipping.   New or gently used toddler to teen clothing. The range of children sizes for items for this request is ages 4-17, including gently new/used shoes, and packets of "fuzzy socks."     New games, cards, crafts, toys, reading materials are always helpful.  One can always call the CCCA Community Services Office for advice. Call (540) 332-2111.       For underfunded families to sustain for a few days after leaving a child at CCCA, there is a need for no less than $500 in gas cards monthly. Denominations of $10 and $25 for Sheetz, Shell, Texaco, and Wilco Hess. Keep in mind that family treatment meetings and discharge of children require travel from all over the state and can be totally unaffordable for so many families. Also about 20 meal cards are needed monthly. Denominations of $5, $10, $20 for Subway, Sheetz, McDonald's, Chili's and Cracker Barrel. These businesses are all cited since they are nearest to CCCA location. CCCA has experienced a need for lodging for about 10 families for 1-2 nights monthly.  Delivery information for CCCA and IHS: Deliveries are accepted at the CCCA, located at: 1355 Richmond Road  Staunton, VA 24401 Call Noel Dianas-Hughes, Director, Community Services,  at (540) 332-2111. Charlottesville area (and surrounding county) donations can be dropped off at  the IHS storage office (not manned) located at: 105 Crofton Place (Lake Monticello area)  Palmyra, VA 22963. IHS will obtain a pickup for movement of a recliner, or arrange a time for retrieving items.  Call IHS to plan a delivery at (434) 589-4864 or e-mail IHS at ihsanctum@gmail.com.   Monetary donations designated for any items on the CCCA wish list can be made out to IHS and must be clearly designated: CCCA charitable donation. IHS will send a tax receipt letter for IRS filing as a charitable donation. All mail to address below:    IHS P.O. Box 163 Palmyra, VA 22963 or contributions via IHS PayPal for CCCA wish list at the donation page located on the IHS website: http://www.interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org/donate.php   Thank you for this consideration.  Blessings .... Wade & Elisheva Clegg and Sam McLawhorn

Giving Thanks for Timely Press Coverage Locally

On Thanksgiving Day the Fluvanna Review printed a lengthy feature about Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) .  We are so very grateful to Correspondent Christina Dameo Guseman for this timely opportunity for further exposure in Fluvanna County, Virginia.   This public charity, located in a small community outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, functions 24/7 with a small core group of no-paid volunteers dependent on consistent supporters. The objective: To serve immediate unmet needs (lodging, food, co-pays, pediatric assistance, etc.) of  indigent patients and caregivers who must travel considerable distances for treatment at UVA Medical Center by making ourselves available to all Social Workers  when no other resource is available to them.   The Goal:  To never have to say NO when a Social Worker calls.    Your review of the article as time allows will offer a solid history of who, what, why and how this effort began in 2008. Please click here for further reading. Thank you ...   From All of Us at IHS

Holiday Helpers

Thanksgiving Week has arrived, and so did several Holiday Helpers. The IHS Food Program has received needed support for both the Full-day Meal Packet Program and the Thanksgiving Day meal at UVA Hospitality House(HH). Special Thanks    to Kristen Rabourdin, Marketing Team Leader at Whole Foods Market in Charlottesville for the Holiday Gift Card of $250 for purchase of turkeys for this special dinner.   to Desire Dawson, Hot Cakes Restaurant Manager, for pastries for the holiday week for Hospitality House.    to Elisheva Clegg, who is cooking the turkeys and making German Potato Salad for 30+ guests at UVA Hospitality House for the Thanksgiving dinner. The Next Holiday meal is Christmas Day at UVA Hospitality House Many of you who live in the Charlottesville area and surrounding counties are certainly invited to participate in making that meal a success.  You may call Mary Jackson, Supervisor at UVA Hospitality House at (434) 924-5722, beginning December 2nd.  Ask what is needed, and then pledge to show up with your items the day before. This allows Mary to fill in the blanks for providing a complete meal. Hospitality House is located at 205 - 14th Street, Charlottesville, VA 22903. Deliveries are made at the rear of the building by just driving around the block. The other alternative is to provide funds to IHS for the IHS Food Program Your donation made out to IHS can be designated for the Food Program which allows us to purchase items needed to fulfill the holiday meals, and continue our twice monthly delivery of food to stock Hospitality House for everyday food needs for the indigent population who are guests in the facility throughout the year.  Remember - all donations sent to IHS will receive a tax receipt letter for charitable donations when filing tax forms for 2013.  Just sharing.  The mailing address is:  IHS  P.O. Box 163  Palmyra, Virginia 22963.   A Note from Margaret Gorman, Meal Packet Coordinator The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist (TJMC UU) children in the first through sixth grade took time in their Religious Education classes to assemble 237 meal packets. The church's ministry theme this month is "Gratitude and Family (family of origin, family of choice, church family, human family, global community)." They were thrilled to learn that the church took up a social action collection in September for funds used to purchase meal packet supplies. After three (3) years of assembling the meal packets, these children and youth are very familiar and proud of their participation in this project. They now teach new children about the work of the IHS and cheer as the empty cardboard delivery boxes fill up with meal packets and cards that express their concern and good wishes for the people who will receive them. It is very rewarding to watch the children at work and hear parents report to the adult leaders that their kids could hardly wait to get to church that day. Making meal packets is a lot of fun and an excellent opportunity to consider gratitude for what we have as well as experience the reward of knowing you have helped someone. A Note from Dawn Cleveland,  IHS Volunteer On November 20, 2013, the Olivet Presbyterian Church Kids Connection youth group completed 41 meal packets for IHS, with some extra supplies left over.  There were 20 kids, from preschool to 5th grade, and each child made 2 cards and 2 packets.  They really had fun making the cards and assembling the bags, and they really understood how they were helping out needy families with their efforts.  This was their final Mission project for the fall, to close out the session on a note of Thanksgiving. Big thanks go to Betsy Dishman, Director of Music and Children's Ministries at Olivet Presbyterian in Charlottesville, VA, for making this project happen. Also, thanks to the families who contributed the food, and to the children who put their hearts into assembling the bags. FROM ALL OF US, TO ALL OF YOU -  THANKS FOR GIVING! Wade & Elisheva Clegg and Sam McLawhorn

October Helpers and Activities

Louisa, Virginia Cub Scout Pack 183 teamed up with Troop 183 for second delivery in 2013! A Note from Katrina Duff Louisa Scouts working like a hive of bees to complete meal packets "Our October 22nd assembly session produced 105 full-day meals. This  is the second gathering of troops this year  for making meal packets for underfunded caregivers who come to  the UVA Medical Center. The March session produced 82 meal packets for a grand total of 182 in 2013. Pack 183 is led by Cubmaster Brad Baber, Committee Chair Elizabeth Thomas, and  Katrina Duff is the Outings Chair for the Pack. We received a lot of help with set up from Alicia Fowler, leader for Bear Den 9, and Jen Baber, assistant den leader of Webelos 2 Den 3. We were assisted by Boy Scout Troop 183, led by Jim Harlow.  The boys that came from that troop are Ben Winslett, Tyler Snyder, Eric Clark, and Colin McCoy. They packed boxes with completed bags, helped the Cubs on their trip from each station, and graciously helped load my car afterwards! Each den within our pack was assigned a different food group to bring in, and everyone graciously volunteered their items, and usually items from other categories as well!  Den leaders supplied the Ziploc bags, Troop 183 supplied us with bowls and spoons, and Xen McCoy (mother of a Cub and Boy Scout) brought us the transport boxes.  The boys looped around our set up room, filling their bags and writing notes of support and encouragement.  Many were glad to make second and third loops around the room, until we ran out of supplies. We thank you for the opportunity to help our Scouts follow their oath, and "give good will!" The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Youth Group adds to October Supply! A Note from Sarah Rainey in mid-September C'ville 2nd Ward LDS Youth Group complete their service project "My Charlottesville Second Ward youth group  at our LDS church was interested in doing meal packets as a service project. The person who organized a project for my Key Club told me to get in touch with IHS. I'm the Laurel Class President for 16-18 year old girls, and it is our time to plan an activity. We collected donations for food items from members and stores in our area. The night that we put the packets together was originally advertized as an "etiquette dinner," where the youth would enjoy a nice dinner. We surprised the participants with this service activity so they would get a small taste of what it means to be hungry. When they arrived at church there was no dinner for them, but they were presented with some facts about hunger in our area and told specifically about the activity. Rather than moan and complain (they were surprised) they jumped up and eagerly got to work. We had one boy racing through the line to complete as many packets as he could in our given time.  It was an opportunity to do something meaningful and think about others." A special thanks to Sarah and the youth group for their delivery of 75 full-day meal packets. IHS  attended two Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) Fairs in October The first CVC Fair in many years in Albemarle County was hosted on the Campus of Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) on October 14th. The outdoor activity was provided excellent weather for staff and students to mingle and learn of charitable activities by about twenty (20) CVC listed  charities. On October 15th we attended a very intimate CVC Fair in the Office of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in Glen Allen, Virginia. Regretfully, due to sickness, we had to cancel an October 24th visit to the CVC Fair at the Commonwealth Center for Children & Adolescents (CCCA) in Staunton, Virginia. The Center is the only state facility for acutely mentally/behaviorally ill children and Adolescents. The new CCCA Director of Community Services is Noel Dianas-Hughes, formerly Manager of Social Work at UVA Medical Center. CVC Fairs are an excellent opportunity for Virginia state employees to learn of those charities who are registered with the CVC Program, and where hosted, employees are encouraged to attend and meet those who seek to make a difference in the lives of so many in the Commonwealth. T. Wade Clegg III, Elisheva Clegg & Sam McLawhorn

The Big Question

There is a question asked on every grant application which may be answered in different ways for different groups who have received funds for projects. That question is:  How do you know if you have successfully accomplished your project or mission? This following short story is somewhat of a composite in order to protect the privacy of a family or individual. It is one story among many over the year.  THIS IS HOW WE MEASURE SUCCESS! One night not so long ago ... I received a call at 3 AM on a Friday morning from a UVA Social Worker in ER.  She said, "Please forgive me for calling so late or early, but there was no one else." I said, "Talk to me."      She continued, "We just received an infant, transferred by taxi for a critical situation. Mother and Father are with their child; however, they are not alone." I asked, "How many children are with them?"   She replied, "Four additional children, several are infants, and Ronald McDonald House is full and not open at this hour.  The family is exhausted, and we can't make arrangements for this number in the hospital. They have so little, and certainly can't afford a hotel room. I will access those full-day meal packets you provide in the Social Work cabinet so they have something to eat, but I really need a room for them."   I remember saying, "I need ten minutes, and I will get back to you."  I called our closest hotel partner, and the overnight clerk recognized me immediately.  After all, how many people call from 12-3 AM with some regularity?  The overnight desk clerk said, "Good morning, you keep some funny hours. I assume you need a room NOW."  After a quick "You betcha, just til normal check-out time, or perhaps you can stretch it until noon. The guest has a lot of babies with her, and needs a place for all to rest and recover. Can you check on a crib and secure a room with two beds?"  The desk clerk simply said, "Give me a name for the registration. Here is the reservation number. I'll check on the crib. Send them on over. Just e-mail the rest."  I blew kisses into the phone; she laughed and hung up. I was back with the  ER social worker in less than 10 minutes. The family was placed in a taxi for transport to the hotel. An immediate temporary need was accomplished. A Reflection: By 3:45 AM, having sent an e-mail to the hotel and social worker documenting details for the record, I closed my notebook, and just sat and focused on all those photos of my grown children and their children.  Some situations allow for an outpouring of emotions. This was one such time.   I kept thinking about this indigent family, caught in an economic downturn, transported with all those kids with no one to assist them, a distance from home,  a critically ill child, and inadequate funds for lodging and food, until the next day or two to work out a plan for them. The social worker still had her work cut out for further assistance .. BUT FOR NOW ...AN IMMEDIATE SITUATION WAS COVERED... A PLACE TO REST AND SOMETHING TO EAT.   A Final Note: I wish this was a rare situation, but it's not.  The size family may be less; the hours may be earlier in the day; but the stress level for anyone coming to Charlottesville with a loved one in critical condition, and no one at home to assist, and no funds to cover the costs of lodging and food immediately upon arrival is why we are involved. The only reason we are available 24/7 for those calls is because of a group of contributors, mostly small periodic donors, who know what is happening. The least able among us are growing in numbers, and the smallest tragedy can drag them over the edge. If you would care to make a difference, click below to make a one-time donation, or set up a monthly donation for automatic withdrawal: http://www.interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org/donate.php   To ALL of you who provide us with food packets or hotel lodging funds, emergency prescription funds and infant car seat funds for NICU indigent parents ... thank you for allowing me to be able to react so quickly. I know when that phone rings at "funny hours" ... WE are ALL being successful! Much love from all of us ...  T. Wade Clegg III, Elisheva Clegg & Sam McLawhorn