A Special Thanks to J & E Berkley Foundation

A letter and attachment arrived this past week which gave the arrival of Spring an extra special meaning. The opening paragraph reads,   "The J & E Berkley Foundation considered your grant request at a meeting held on May 1, 2018. It is my pleasure to inform you that a grant of $3,500 was awarded to Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) to be used as outlined in your proposal dated March 31, 2018. Enclosed is an official check in the amount of $3,500." This delightful letter and check was signed by Chris Pasmore, Executive Director. And, as always, please remember that all of us at IHS are non-paid volunteers, and we are all donating what we can to IHS personally. Also remember - for transparency we hold the "Gold Seal of Approval" from the Guidestar.org national clearing house. Please do what you can. And, if you would like to donate now to our cause, please click the button below to go to our encrypted secure on-line donation form.         Your thoughtful consideration of our efforts is so appreciated.    Much Love ... "Us"

The Spirit of Giving .... and More Participants

March - April has been a productive period, especially for meal-making Please take a few minutes and review the generosity  of the following new volunteers and those who have  revitalized their efforts for consistent participation.  Thank you Anya Rothman, age 12, from Crozet who selected IHS for a services project. With the full support of her family, Anya put together 24 full-day meal packets.  Such a productive output is generally only undertaken by a group; however, Anya devoted herself in an extraordinary effort for her Bat Mitzvah celebration. Thank you Udeyvir Cheema and Andria Li, who spearheaded the making of 42 meal packets at the UVA American Medical  Student Association (AMSA). AMSA is a national organization that includes premedical and medical students, interns, residents and physicians. At the UVA chapter they connect premed students with each other through various professional service and social opportunities. Andria learned of the IHS  program while attending Western Albemarle High School and serving as President of her high school Key Club. Thank you Ann Salamini and the Elders Covenant Group at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church UU located on Rugby Road in Charlottesville for adding 18 meal packets in April to the outstanding March project by Youth Sunday School members who completed 219  meal packets.  As most friends of the charity know, the TJMC UU is the anchor church for  the meal  packet program annually, under the  guidance of IHS's most prolific volunteer, Margaret Gorman. Thank you Maria Brown, Director of The Children's Garden kindergarten in Albemarle County. The children support the meal packet collection annually with no less than a dozen packets. Thank  you Debra Kurre, project leader for the Fluvanna Rotary Club's first meal packet project which began just weeks ago. In closing - it is well  worth repeating that Effort Baptist Church at Lake Monticello  in Fluvanna County has included IHS in their Quarterly Tithing Program.  This donation has proven to be so helpful in sustaining the IHS Lodging expenses for immediate funding for so many outpatient arrivals  for treatment at UVA, especially when Ronald McDonald House is fully occupied, or underfunded outpatients arrive for chemotherapy for lengthy stays. And finally, thanks for Jan  and Paul Crowther and Justin Wade and the congregation of meal makers at Grace and Glory Lutheran Church in Palmyra, Virginia who make 60 packets every second Sunday of each month. THANKS TO ALL!    And, as always, please remember that all of us at IHS are non-paid volunteers, and we are all donating what we can to IHS personally. Also remember - for transparency we hold the "Gold Seal of Approval" from the Guidestar.org national clearing house. Please do what you can. And, if you would like to donate now to our cause, please click the button below to go to our encrypted secure on-line donation form.       Your thoughtful consideration of our efforts is so appreciated.    Much Love ... "Us"

March Is Moving Rather Quickly ...

It happens annually ... Tax time deadline; submission of annual application for Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC);  reviewing grants with April deadlines; and contact by participants who wish to become active in support of IHS categories, especially for making meal packets for UVA Medical Center caregivers who accompany patients. As I write this e-mail, it is Sunday March 18, 2018 and ... I received an e-mail from Margaret Gorman that her Sunday School classes at Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church UU in Charlottesville are having a meal making session at the church at this time.  Thanks to all who are participating! They're making 204 full-day meal packets. This past week, following their regular second Sunday production at Grace & Glory Lutheran Church in Palmyra, the church made 62 meal packets and delivered to the Lake Monticello IHS Office.  Thanks to Jan Crowther and Justin Wade for their leadership for this monthly effort. I also received an e-mail today from Andria Li, one of the monthly service chairs for AMSA, a pre-med club at the University of Virginia. Andria announced that they intend to make 42 meal packets in the next few weeks.  This will be their first time involvement.  Thanks to AMSA. Oh ... I almost forgot to mention the Fluvanna Rotary Club A few weeks ago, the Fluvanna Rotary Club made their first production of meal packets. Debra Kurre headed up that project with Rotary members who set aside a time and date for that effort. Debra met with me at the IHS office to review what was needed and organized the session.  It really helps when a first-time participant meets with an experienced leader of a meal-making church, club, clinic or scout troop and learns what items are best for the contents of a meal packet. It sometimes takes a little practice to understand sizes and what constitutes a complete packet. Debra Kurre's visit paid off and the packets were excellent. I know this is a short note ... but it shows that volunteers are adding to our idea of positive MARCH MADNESS! In closing,  please know that we look forward to other groups who wish to add IHS meal-making to their list of charity activities. Also know that there are some other categories whereby funds alone can greatly secure the needs of indigent patients and caregivers. For example, lodging and prescription funds are always at the forefront of this charity's efforts. Once a year participation or several times annually ... YOU select how your group can involve helping out!   And, as always, please remember that all of us at IHS are non-paid volunteers, and we are all donating what we can to IHS personally. Also remember - for transparency we hold the "Gold Seal of Approval" from the Guidestar.org national clearing house. Please do what you can. And, if you would like to donate now to our cause, please click the button below to go to our encrypted secure on-line donation form.       Your thoughtful consideration of our efforts is so appreciated.    Much Love ... "Us"

Anything worth saying is worth repeating a thousand times ...

Therefore, it is prominent that what we repeat is truly worthwhile. What that generally means is that there will be individuals and groups to whom excessive mention is justified. Why? Because their consistent participation with funds and food are among the most important sustaining factors for lifting large numbers of people for whom this charity seeks to support. In the past year ... the following have blessed us with their abundant  giving: Grace and Glory Lutheran Church in Palmyra makes no less than 60 full-day meal packets every second Sunday and delivered them to the IHS office at Lake Monticello.   Effort Baptist Church in Palmyra has donated several thousand dollars from their "tithing program" to be used as needed for lodging, food and infant car seats.   Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church UU in Charlottesville remains the anchor church for production of meal packets several times annually through their Sunday School Giving, producing hundreds of meals each session. First Methodist Church of Palmyra has been generous with funds in support. Thank you All for what you are doing to maintain this worthy program! And who are the people we help? There is an indigent and grossly underfunded population who receive their treatment at two medical centers in Virginia. The University of Virginia(UVA)  is one of these facilities. What is not known by the general population is that far too many who must come to Charlottesville, home of the UVA Medical Center, simply can't afford travel, commercial lodging, food, or medications for out-patient treatment. The challenge of the long-haul, and unexpected time away from home unprepared There is a matter of extended "out-patient" stays of many weeks for those who come to the UVA Cancer Center. An initial review of a patient can determine that the situation is critical and extensive appointments are needed. Extended assistance may be located and secured, but very few charities or agencies are geared to immediate assistance for patients who are totally without funds. Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) was originated in order to assist with immediate needs for days, while the UVA Social Work staff goes into overdrive to find those opportunities for those who will be in critical treatment for long periods. Your participation as an individual or as a part of a church or business or club is so appreciated.   And, as always, please remember that all of us at IHS are non-paid volunteers, and we are all donating what we can to IHS personally. Also remember - for transparency we hold the "Gold Seal of Approval" from the Guidestar.org national clearing house. Please do what you can. And, if you would like to donate now to our cause, please click the button below to go to our encrypted secure on-line donation form.       Your thoughtful consideration of our efforts is so appreciated.    Much Love ... "Us"

Just Sharing ....

I thought that you might like to know how we learn of lodging needs for the least able who must come to UVA Medical Center for treatment and diagnostic appointments. All requests must come from a UVA Social Worker assigned to each patient's case. This is not news to those who have assisted us for years, but it never hurts to repeat som e examples of requests just in case you forward this note to a friend or colleague to join this charity  in support of indigent patients and their caregivers.     January 2018:   In the last 4-5 weeks IHS received 7  requests for lodging assistance.  One request required reservation in a commercial hotel, since the patient was to be accompanied by a spouse and small child. There is no accommodation for children under 18 years of age in the UVA Hospitality House; however, due  to extreme weather, the couple had to postpone the trip from southern Virginia. A commercial room was booked and canceled, but the hotel did not charge the charity, since the patient did not use the room.     Two requests w ere for cancer patients. Neither patient is identified nor their Medical Record Number provided herein or on the Social Worker e-mail request. Both requests below were honored, as were the other single night requests from other Social workers.     Patient #1:  "I have a newly diagnosed advance cancer patient who needs to be here for 6 weeks of XRT. She lives 4 hours away. She had to quit her job and has applied for disability, but will not hear back for months. She has no other source of income and is no longer married.  Her daughter-in-law is coming with her to help out. They have been able to get some money together for gas and food, but lodging funds are hard for them. Social Worker FH still needs to meet them, but she is starting tomorrow, so I wondered if you would be willing to pay for the following nights:  (3 nights this week; 3 nights next week; and 1 night the next week).  So it would come to $ ____.  Could you let me know today? Thank you!!!!!!"    Patient #2:  "Would IHS be willing to cover t h e stay of a patient and her caregiver? The patient had missed several appointments over the course of the last few weeks due to unreliable transportation. She lives nearly 100 miles away. It is very important that she finishes her cancer treatment.  She was able to make it here on Wednesday and her radiation team has adjusted her schedule so that she can finish sooner than originally expected. She will go home Tuesday. Her treatment requires mild anesthesia so she must have a support person with her. She has been unable to work during her cancer treatment.  Could IHS pay for two people for 6 nights for a total of $ ____? Thank you for your consideration."   Click Here to Support us this Valentine's Day Remember ... IHS re-stocks the Social Work Office food cabinet in the Social Work Office on the main floor of the main hospital, based on a call and e-mail request by the Social Worker assigned to monitor the full-day meal packets. IHS re-stocks the kitchen supplies at UVA Hospitality House (HH) upon receipt of a list of needs via e-mail from the HH Supervisor. In general both activities occur every three weeks, and usually within 48 hours of the requests.    And, as always, please remember that all of us at IHS are non-paid volunteers, and we are all donating what we can to IHS personally. Also remember - for transparency we hold the "Gold Seal of Approval" from the Guidestar.org national clearing house. Please do what you can. And, if you would like to donate now to our cause, please click the button below to go to our encrypted secure on-line donation form.       Your thoughtful consideration of our efforts is so appreciated.    Sincerely ... T. Wade Clegg III & Sam McLawhorn IHS Founding Members

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other Virginia Commonwealth State Employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) begins October 1, 2018.  Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. (IHS) is a CVC charity.  To support our work for lodging, food programs, prescriptions & co-pays, pediatric support with infant car seats and clothing, etc. , designate your gift to CVC code 003648..

A Quick Reminder ....

Perhaps you noticed on TV or plastered on storefronts: Happy New Year!!!!   Yes ... You still have time to consider a donation dated prior to January 1, 2018 when tabulating your taxes, thus taking advantage of charitable giving.   Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) appreciates your attention. There is indeed so much good involved by supporting this all-volunteer public charity whose total devotion is to offer immediate temporary funding assistance for lodging, food, prescription co-pays, etc.   Thank you for considering a truly worthy action.   Contact information: Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS)  P.O. Box 163  Palmyra, VA 22963  Email: ihsanctum@gmail.com And, as always, please remember that all of us at IHS are non-paid volunteers, and we are all donating what we can to IHS personally. Also remember - for transparency we hold the "Gold Seal of Approval" from the Guidestar.org national clearing house. Please do what you can. And, if you would like to donate now to our cause, please click the button below to go to our encrypted secure on-line donation form.       Much love, T. Wade Clegg III & Sam McLawhorn and the friends who keep our efforts active.

YOU are the answer to this question : "How does this charity let others know how it is serving the University of Virginia Medical Center?"

When you share this e-mail with a friend, a fellow worker, a church member, and emphasize that the 6 minute promotional video on the IHS home page is the most informative tool we have ... then your extra effort allows us to add another friend in order to sustain our participation for the least able to afford their trip to Charlottesville.   For 9 years this charity has maintained an open communication with UVA Social Workers in order to catch that segment of long-distance patients who arrive without adequate funds to sustain their immediate critical needs. For the grossly underfunded patients and perhaps a caregiver, their unexpected need to be at UVA Medical Center without adequate means is often a frightening challenge. IHS was originated to seek to ease the burden on the least able among us. IHS is a non-profit, totally volunteer effort, highly dependent on private donations.   Please allow me to repeat how disconcerting and depressing the experience of arriving at the state's premier hospital, sometimes hundreds of miles from home, arriving late at night without funds for eating or a place to sleep. THIS charity is that 24/7 contact through the Office of Social Workers to assist with last minute unprepared patients.   This rather short reminder of how YOU can extend a hand for future arrivals is so needed. Reach out to your friends by forwarding this e-mail and allow them to review the IHS website.   Encourage your contacts to e-mail and ask what they can do to secure this needed charity.   Contact information: Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS)  P.O. Box 163  Palmyra, VA 22963  Email: ihsanctum@gmail.com And, as always, please remember that all of us at IHS are non-paid volunteers, and we are all donating what we can to IHS personally. Also remember - for transparency we hold the "Gold Seal of Approval" from the Guidestar.org national clearing house. Please do what you can. And, if you would like to donate now to our cause, please click the button below to go to our encrypted secure on-line donation form.       T. Wade Clegg III & Sam McLawhorn Founding Members IHS