A Personal Call to Arms

Am I taking liberties to get your attention? ABSOLUTELY  YES!  My understanding of a militia is a fighting force composed of nonprofessional fighters called upon to enter a combat situation. Consider this charity (IHS) a  fighting force, not in need of replacements, but a few more units to engage and capture new ground. And that is the objective when an underfunded patient or caregiver arrives at UVA Medical Center ... to feel firmly welcomed and comforted, able to take a breath, begin to think clearly for planning next steps ... and begin the process of navigating either self or another back to health.  Allow me to pose this question:  When was the last time you had to deal with a critical illness or injury away from home, and found yourself without a place to sleep and nothing to eat?  Join the fighters to make sure it never happens during our watch.  The IHS fight began five and a half years ago. The mission was and remains a sustained battle to meet a variety of situations we named "unmet needs" for those outpatients and caregivers of patients who struggle to balance basic necessities a long way from home. The treatment may be free, the professional medical staff among the best,  but without funds for travel, lodging, food, medical co-pays - critical decisions must be made ... TO COME OR NOT! What if an underfunded person arrives and circumstances dictate a change of plans? Now we are talking about being caught in an exceptional dilemma.  The UVA Hospitality is full, or the policy for staying in the Hospitality House does not allow for a child under 18 to stay, and there was no one at home base to assist, so the child is with the patient. And ...  the transportation which brought the patient has gone, or the only transport to get to Charlottesville arrived late at night, and a patient and child are stranded. Now - add to those frustrating situations the fact that a doctor has seen the patient upon arrival and found something very nasty is happening, so the patient is asked to stay over for tests, maybe for several days. Yes - this is a lot to take in, but patients arrive daily who are not prepared for these critically unexpected situations.  The next question of course, until a doctor indicates that one can be healed or that life is about to end, is WHERE DO I SLEEP, EAT, AND SIMPLY MAINTAIN DURING THIS HIGH PERIOD OF ANXIETY? The Battlefield can seem really bleak when an individual has no ammunition to maintain IHS has eliminated so many conditions by becoming a "go to" 24/7 independent charity for all UVA hospital social workers to access for temporary emergency situations as described above. Patients are screened and approved by social workers, and when needed,  IHS pays for lodging (commercial and Hospitality House); provides up to 300 full-day meal packets monthly through social staff;  and provides food on request to Hospitality House. Of course the other unmet needs have been mentioned, but lodging and food remain the most prominent immediate concerns.  No one is confronted with having to sleep on a bench inside or outside UVA Medical Center, or inside their car on a side street, or stay hungry. Those situations are now rare ... thanks to a dedicated volunteer squad working closely with social workers. We need new recruits (that would hopefully be YOU)  to fortify some very real challenges The UVA Hospitality House (HH) changed its policy as of last month for the lowest pay range (indigent) guests from $1/night to $10/night for ALL guests.  This change was felt  immediately as presenting a significant challenge for us. Remember - our initial objective was to assist with immediate " temporary commercial lodging assistance"  for a few days only when HH was fully occupied or HH policy prevented use of Hospitality House. A Reality Check of what this change NOW means IHS has paid for underfunded guests at Hospitality House with a desperate need for as little as $1/night over the last few years.  The longer staying guests who paid only $1/night rate were almost always cancer outpatients here for extended chemotherapy from 4-8 weeks; therefore, what has been a fee from $28 - $56 will jump to $280 for the first 14 days, and then $5/night for the remaining treatment days. In other words, a singular patient's 8 week fee could range from $350 - $490.  You can see how a few extended long-term stays for chemo outpatients and a scattering of guests who only stay for a few days can easily exceed our commercial lodging cost monthly. In essence this new change will increase our need for lodging funds 100%. Some Dedicated Friends have suggested that we must seek new soldiers in this fight The question is:  Are you willing to help us with this idea?  Are you willing to lead an effort to dedicate as little as $10/monthly and ask 10 others to consider your lead.  Reach out to members of your family, neighbors, co-workers, church members, club members, etc. to join you in dedication of $10/monthly.  ACTUALLY ASK 10 OTHERS TO CONSIDER JOINING YOU.  Each one who joins the fight, even if only $5/monthly, will likely become a permanent soldier. We are prepared to support you and introduce what IHS does You have already been introduced to IHS through our website and blog postings. Once this website is read by others, our objectives are abundantly clear.  It is so  important for contacts to understand that this is an ALL volunteer public charity (NO ONE is paid) and funds are fully used to meet the unmet needs of the least able to sustain while in Charlottesville for treatment. It's so easy to reach out and discuss generosity which affects the lives of so many We know that people want to be asked to make a difference. We know that people want to be assured that their giving is going exactly where it is intended. We need for you to bring this awareness to your sphere of influence.  If you can do this ... we will sustain and continue to put our hearts, our time, our feet forward to secure this program which is so vital for so many. Upon accessing our website home page, the easiest way to become a singular or consistent contributor with a small monthly donation, the PayPal opportunity is available. Please let us know you have read this e-mail and offer comments or suggestions.  Sincerely ... from ALL of us on the front lines daily.

One Smooth Operation in a Large Hospital Office

Last week IHS received a call from Lynn Heath at the UVA Department of Anesthesiology, located in the old hospital building within the UVA Health System complex in downtown Charlottesville. She simply called and said, "I have full-day meals ready for pickup." We had no idea that this project was even in the works, but we were truly delighted and immediately arranged for retrieval. I asked Lynn to share this experience with readers of this e-mail and then for placement on our charity blog site. This is the FIRST time that a large hospital office had planned, collected and produced full-day meal packets ... used their community service hours available for supporting a charity ... and it seemed appropriate to share how it came about ... hoping to stimulate other office participation. A Note from Lynn T. Heath, Executive Assistant to George F. Rich, Chair Department of Anesthesiology .... Our department selected IHS for holiday charity. "On most days, things are pretty quiet in the Department of Anesthesiology administrative offices at the University of Virginia. And then there was February 21, when ten staffers worked together to assemble 72 meal packets, each package containing enough food to last one person for a full day. We also included a handmade greeting card as a personal touch. A fun change of pace for a worthwhile cause, and easy enough for any office to pull off. The need is great in our community, and this project was our small way to address it. We are grateful for the financial stability our jobs (and benefits) create and our ability to reach out to others less fortunate. As administrative employees of the department, we have little direct contact with patients. We hope that our support of outpatients and their families adds to their healing in some small way. Our project was inspired by holiday giving.  We traditionally take donations for holiday presents for our bosses, and last year, our administrator suggested we contribute to a charity instead of on his behalf.  One of the staff members nominated IHS because of the caring connection to our patients. It was too late to complete the project before the holiday break, and weather delays and staff travel pushed it into February. BUT ... any day is a great day to do this! What's needed?  IHS makes it easy with clear and comprehensive instructions and hints for shopping and assembly. One staff member volunteered to check prices and planned our purchases. Another collected donations. A third brought in art supplies. Savvy shopping stretched our dollars to fund almost twice the meal packets we had originally planned. This was a strictly voluntary effort. No departmental money or supplies were used, and there was no pressure - just an invitation! - to participate. When the time came, a few employees were unable to join in because of work commitments, but ten turned out to be a great number for a working team. We naturally divided into different roles: some people opened cartons, others sorted and packed meal bags, others broke down the empty boxes for recycling. We had artists who gave special attention to each card, and people who felt shy about even signing them, but it all worked out. Since several people who had donated money were not able to be present when we stuffed the bag, we included them by signing cards with their names. AND we used our community service time. It only took us an hour from start to finish to assemble our meal packets and make cards, and our department administrators were happy to allow us the time. The majority of the time went into shopping and transporting all that food, a task that could be divided among several people.  As University employees, we are given 16 hours to spend in "Community Service" activities, so it's easy for any department to do something similar. It's a project that can work with almost any amount of money or time available, since it's easily scaled to the resources at hand."                                                                                          Sincerely ... Lynn

Radio Interview Captured for IHS Friends

Air Time Exposure is a Precious Commodity ... Please Listen and Share We were gratified to have been invited to communicate with a radio audience on January 10, 2014  in the Charlottesville, VA area.  Actually, there were two interview programs hosted by Broadcaster Marcello Rollando: "The Reasonable Voice, Blog Talk Radio (TRV-BTR)" and "Charlottesville This Week (CTW)" were pre-recorded the days before airing.  Only  "The Reasonable Voice"  interview is provided herein.  The interviews were similar, but in an effort to recognize so many who have assisted this charity, some groups may be missing from one interview and not the other; therefore,  those who heard the CTW did not hear all that was related on TRV.  Please  listen as time allows, get to know us and what we are seeking to accomplish with  Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum. A Little Background Regarding the Radio Host and his programs Marcello Rollando is a Political/Speech Writer, Public Speaker, Radio Talk Show Host/News Anchor/Producer for Monticello Media and a Media/Communications/Theatre Director. TRV BTR is the Blog Talk Radio show that hosts discussions, panels and interviews with other reasonable voices. It is prerecorded by phone. It can be 30-40 minutes. The primary goal is to introduce to Central Virginia guests who love and are making contributions to Virginia, if not Charlottesville. TheReasonableVoice@GMail.com  (703) 627-6687 (cell) PO BOX  6099 Charlottesville, VA 22906. "Charlottesville This Week (CTW)" is the Monticello Media radio talk show that airs Sunday mornings. It is pre-recorded by phone on Thursdays beginning at 11:30 am. The Mission of CTW is to enlighten our audience with national and international issues that directly impact Virginia citizens where they live: neighborhoods, businesses, schools, both stage & movie theaters and of course, ballot boxes and personal human rights.  It is an effort to reveal national issues with beneficial connection to Virginia, as well as Charlottesville, while giving Charlottesville's presence a national reach. Here is the recording in two parts: Healing Reverence - Part 1 Healing Reverence - Part II News broadcasts are aired on WCHV 107.5 FM  and 1260 AM.  Charlottesville This Week airs on different Monticello Media stations between 5-8:30am Sundays. CTW runs on WCYK from 5:20-5:40am Sunday...it runs from 6:20-6:40am Sunday on WZGN and WCYK.   Here is the URL for the new WCHV website, www.wchv.com,   which in addition to Sunday morning shows/broadcasts, now has downloadable podcasts by the Tuesday after CTW shows air. As a friend of IHS never neglect an opportunity to say THANKS to those who allow us such positive exposure. In this case the person who should be thanked is Marcello Rollando at e-mail   toptvdirector@embarqmail.com

A Quick Review of Meal-Making Groups in 2013

Not to be forgotten - Boy Scout Troop 36 in Charlottesville, VA - December Delivery Boy Scout Troop 36 made 48 full-day meal packets for IHS as their service project during their December 2013 lock-in which was held at the First United Methodist Church in Charlottesville. Twelve (12) scouts and leaders spent the night, also competing in broomball, completing merit badge requirements, and hosting Cub Scouts in an open house. Troop 36 meets Mondays at 7 PM at the First Methodist Church. For more information on Troop 36 contact Don Kimpel at DLKimpel@gmail.com. A Special thanks for their  annual holiday donation. Assistant Scout Master, Don Kimpel, also delivered 50 meal packets in December 2012. Looking back at ALL those who held special assembly sessions for meal-making in 2013 Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist, Charlottesville, VA(TJMC UU is the anchor church since 2010; meals made by children's Sunday School classes) The Margaret and Michael Gorman family of Ivy, VA University Scouts at UVA (Venture Crew 1819) The Rachel Thielmann family of Charlottesville, VA Mollie Michie Pre-School in Charlottesville, VA Cub Scout Pack 79, United Methodist Church in Crozet, VA Cub Scout Pack 183 and Troop 3, Louisa, VA Children's Garden Pre-school, Earlysville, VA The Enrichment Alliance of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA Key Clubs of Charlottesville, VA The Elaine Cheng Family of Charlottesville, VA LDS Church (Second Ward Youth Group), Charlottesville, VA The Dawn Cleveland Family of Ivy, VA Olivet Presbyterian Church Kids Connection, Charlottesville, VA. Special Notice for food donations and funds for UVA Hospitality House food purchases Antioch Baptist Church, Scottsville, VA Whole Foods Market, Charlottesville, VA Hot Cakes Restaurant, Charlottesville, VA SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  All recipients of this e-mail, or who read this note as a blog posting are invited to involve your family, church, children's organizations, and schools in this valuable food program for outpatients and caregivers who simply do not have funds to support themselves while visiting UVA Medical Center. Read about the program and the part you can play. February and March participation for making full-day meal packets is needed NOW.. Sincerely ....  T. Wade Clegg III

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