April - May has produced an abundance of groups involved with making full-day meal packets for placement in the UVA Medical Center Social Work Office as needed. What a terrific outpouring as we enter the summer months when most schools, clubs and even church groups will be occupied with vacation adventures.
Read the brief summaries below of these faithful contributors
 Cub Scout Troop 183 in Louisa, VA:
122 full-day meal packets delivered March 30. Thanks to Coordinator Katrina Duff for leading the way twice annually. The Scouts have been so supportive for the 4th straight year.
Cub Scout Pack 79 in Crozet, VA:
25 full-day meal packets were made in late March. Cub Scout Master Dave Vance spearheaded the assembly session. Pack 79 is chartered to Crozet United Methodist Church.
Maria Brown's The Children's Garden in Earlysville, VA:
15 full-day meal packets were delivered in late March. This dedicated group of children, known as "The Community Helpers," has participated for the last 4 years.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church (TJMC UU) in Charlottesville, VA:
99 full-day meal packets from the children in grades 1-4 made on April 7. They've become so efficient that all meals were assembled and boxed in 30 minutes. Special thanks to Leia Durland-Jones and Margaret Gorman, project coordinators.
Western Albemarle High School (WAHS) Key Club in Crozet, VA:
98 full-day meal packets made on Thursday April 17. Angela Li lead the charge once again for this annual project. Angela indicated that the Key Club joined with members of the University Baptist Church for their project.
University Baptist Church Charlottesville, VA:
48 full-day meal packets were made by the Youth Group on Saturday April 19. This was one of their activities during a Pre-Easter Fast.
Thanks to all the young people who have contributed to the stability of this life-line of meal packets which sustains the least able visitors who come from great distances to UVA Medical Center. YOU make a difference!
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Saturday, May 17, 2014
IHS Volunteer Meal-Makers Made Big Impact over Last Six Weeks
Friday, April 25, 2014
Commonwealth of Virginia (CVC) Monthly Payments Have Begun
Even if not a Virginia State Employee ... this program is important for your knowledge
 IHS received the first CVC check last week from the 2013/2014 campaign. Since the total designations exceeded $2,000, the first check ($720.66) is generally the largest, and the remainder is disbursed monthly. The total CVC contribution to IHS this year is $2,469.80. There were 22 total contributions: 13 named donors and 9 anonymous. To those 22 people ... thank you so very much.This first CVC check could not have arrived at a more opportune time. January 2014 alone was the highest January cost in 5 years for lodging, especially since the room rate for ALL categories has increased to $10/night at UVA Hospitality House, and many of the guests stay for many days or weeks. We had never anticipated a long term assistance nor the increase in nightly rate for the least able to pay, but please know that we are indeed trying to help meet that need, as well as the overflow which requires a commercial hotel room. The Growth Expected through the CVC Program has not materialized  For your information this was our third year in the CVC program, which is the payroll deduction program for Virginia State employees. The first year we received $4,000.00 from 20 donors; the second year we received $3,500.00 from 22 donors; and this year we received $2,469.80 from 22 donors. As you can see, there is a diminishing aspect to this trend. We have traveled to CVC Fairs statewide, but none of those efforts have produced a donor. A CVC Fair is simply a display and discussion area at state agency locations to meet and greet and explain the charity. And of course there are still no CVC Fairs at University of Virginia facilities. Cross state travel is simply not justified for the lack of return; therefore, we are so dependent on growth from UVA Medical Center donors. UVA Medical Center Employee Exposure to IHS must come from present friends of IHS Please make it known to friends and colleagues how vital it is to have participation this coming year. Perhaps it is simply lack of exposure. Exposure comes only from friends who are relating the part we are playing for the least able to be in Charlottesville for critical medical matters. Our budget in 2013 was $37,999.00. The IHS projected budget for 2014 with lodging doubling, and food costs rising for groups making meal packets and for our supplemental purchases to keep the program fully active for Social Office and kitchen needs at Hospitality House, plus co-pay/ prescriptions and baby program items, such a infant car seats is now revised to $41,400.00. The operating expenses, of which four board members pay the largest share is projected similar to last year, namely an additional $7,180.00. As you know, NO ONE IS PAID OR REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES. The total revised minimum budget projection FOR THIS YEAR is $48,580.00.  Grants are so important, but growth from Private Contributions dictate any chance of growthAs of this writing, only the Bama Works of Dave Matthews Band in the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF) has consistently provided a dedicated food grant ($10,000) to this charity. This has been their third straight year, and this grant has been the reason that we were able to be the reliable source for assisting and maintaining assistance with food for UVA Hospitality House. We do anticipate consideration for two other grants for other categories, but there is no assurance when dealing with applications for grants annually. The broad-based needs in this community have increased; therefore, the grant amounts have been reduced. A reality of life.
A Reminder of why we have become the umbrella for another state hospital
There is a need to mention our support for indigent and underfunded families and children who are being served by the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents (CCCA) in Staunton, Virginia, the state's only intensive psychiatric hospital for ages 4-17 years of age.A very clear explanation is offered by accessing the IHS blog posting of December 16, 2013. Grants are being sought for Staunton nonprofit projects and psychiatric patient assistance  NO donations or grants which come to IHS in support of those served by the UVA Medical Center are mixed with support of this new CCCA project, which IHS has assumed under our umbrella as a public charity. It is important that you know that the emphasis for CCCA is directed to the Staunton community, and that grants are solicited solely related for support of CCCA by grant providers in Staunton or for grants related to helping families in need of support when the patient is being treated for psychiatric needs. Also, individuals along the I-81 corridor (from Roanoke, Lexington, Harrisonburg, Woodstock, etc.) in Virginia, with emphasis in Staunton, now have a charity for sending a check designated just to CCCA, and receive a tax deductible letter for tax filing. NO others had previously offered this opportunity. What is IHS's initial objectives in this first year of assistance for CCCA?  We are hopeful that in the years to come that IHS exposure to CCCA needs will allow the CCCA Community Services and Admissions personnel to buy food cards, gas cards and secure lodging for those underfunded families and caregivers who must travel to Staunton, always with children in emergency treatment situations. Also - and perhaps you did not know, the CCCA in Staunton is where Charlottesville, VA children with emergency psychiatric needs are taken. Quite frankly, we could not say no to the request from the hospital to assist. Based on needs projected by the Community Services Director, the budget for just the needs stated above is about $25,000. It will be a challenge ... but what's not a challenge when there is so much to be done.A Final Note for your very important consideration If at any time you would like to know some areas where you can assist ... simply ask. Send an e-mail! I have some very pointed ideas. We could use more people assisting with fulfilling some very consistent needs, not the least is speaking to your friends, your club, your church, any school or business affiliations. Group efforts can make big things happen. Remember - the people being served by this charity are from every area of Virginia. These are truly everyone's neighbors. Sincerely ..... T. Wade & Elisheva Clegg III and Sam McLawhorn Founding Members Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. |
Monday, April 14, 2014
A Video for the Ages!
| Well - perhaps that's a bit overstated; however, it is certainly worth sharing One often worries about seeking to provide a concise informative presentation in such a confined number of minutes; but, this 6 minutes 15 seconds of video linked herein is that effort. We believe it can and will offer another opportunity for sharing an important effort (make that vital effort!) to sustain a program that makes a difference for the least able who are being assisted daily when they arrive in Charlottesville, VA for treatment at UVA Medical Center.
Stacia Harris, Allora Productions in Charlottesville, VA spent weeks in setting up and scheduling and shooting scenes and doing interviews. Stacia received marvelous cooperation from UVA Medical Center Office of Information and Office of Social Work. Several Hospital staff members offered comments which are captured in the production. And the Unity Church who was making full-day meal packets at the time of shooting allowed us to tape their assembly session and two of the girls and their sponsor offered their appreciation for a chance to give to the IHS program. So - thanks to everyone on camera and behind the camera who helped out. Your comments and further exposure of this video can make such a difference. Now - access the link and enjoy. Sincerely ... T. Wade Clegg III , Elisheva Clegg & Sam McLawhorn Founding Members Interfaith Humaniarian Sanctum, Inc. |
Friday, March 21, 2014
Meal-Making Groups ... Your Participation is So Important!
| Last month the UVA Department of Anesthesiology was the first large hospital office to organize and produce full-day meal packets. Details on that successful project are provided on the IHS blog site posting of March 3, 2014. The Department took advantage of the program which allows University employees sixteen (16) hours annually for community service. Guess where they devoted their time? Spring is sprung ... and old friends are invigorated Three (3) steadfast friends of the charity are planning meal-making sessions later this month. Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist in Charlottesville, VA; Louisa, VA Scout Pack 183; and The Children's Garden of Earlysville, VA have been partners in this food program for the last three years. A new participant, which has indicated that they wish to be a "repeat provider" is Unity Church in Charlottesville. Read on ... The Uniteens of Unity of Charlottesville engaged in a labor of love A note from Gina Leah, Unity Church CoordinatorBecome involved in this on-going food program ... making meals or providing funds Just visit the link herein, and read about the food program. Download and share the GUIDE for making these special meals for underfunded caregivers and outpatients who come to Charlottesville for treatment at UVA Medical Center. These generous acts by small and large groups throughout central Virginia make a cumulative difference for so many who simply would not eat without this program. If you need more ideas ... e-mail us at ihsanctum@gmail.com. Sincerely ... T. Wade Clegg III, IHS |
"The 
After everything was cleaned up and we were ready to settle down for the evening, I asked them if they enjoyed this labor of love, and their overall thoughts. Each of them enjoyed the packing, but enjoyed even more the feeling that they were doing something important to help people in the Virginia community. When I asked them if they'd like to do this again, the answer was a resounding YES! One young lady asked if we could do this next month!Monday, March 10, 2014
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.
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.
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Monday, March 3, 2014
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.
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"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.
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!
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. Friday, February 14, 2014
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:
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 |
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