CVC 2011 - A Good Start for First Involvement

Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2011 Update This is a special e-mail for Virginia State Employees who offered support through payroll deduction.  However, it is indeed worth sharing with all friends who have shown their devotion and interest in this charity, which is now moving into its fourth year.  Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. has CVC code 3648. From date of application in April 2011 to participate in CVC, and enrollment by employees in October 2011, it has taken until April of 2012 to receive notice of how many participated and made contributions to IHS. Notice arrived only this past week that twenty (20) Charlottesville state employees enrolled to donate a total of $4,062.00 over this year.     It was an important start for a first time All volunteer charity IHS is dedicated to indigent patients and caregivers who are served at the University of Virginia Medical Center. Not well known even in the hospital itself, with very little opportunity to promote except through word of mouth, and twice monthly e-mails, it was so gratifying that twenty people were added to our efforts with needed contributions. Small stable contributions are always the basis for sustaining a charitable effort over the years to come, and this initial show of support is deeply appreciated. IHS met minimum requirements and is now enrolled for CVC 2012! If you wish to share this announcement by forward e-mail,  the opportunity for exposure  is so welcomed.  Other contact info is also listed below.  Our mission has not changed, only the addition of some unmet needs to assist the social staff in their efforts to further secure those being served. Remember -- " IHS is constantly building a stronger safety net for those who come from great distances in need of temporary assistance with lodging, food, co-pay & prescriptions, and some very important needs in pediatrics, such as infant car seats, baby clothes and  rental fees for electric breast pumps for uninsured mothers."  IHS is a totally independent, non-religious, nonprofit, no stock, ALL volunteer, 501(c)3,  public charity - the "go-to" 24/7 responder when a social worker calls.

SPECIAL NOTICE for UVA Medical and University staff, and all other state employees. The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC) 2012 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.

IT ALL ADDS UP! A Quick Look at March 2012

Food awaiting packaging Why so much emphasis on food assembly groups? Most of this charity's categories of support, such as lodging, co-pay & prescription,  travel,  pediatric needs (infant car seats and rental of electric breast pumps), as well as food supplies to stock the kitchen at UVA Hospitality House are based on receipt of funds.  Money is received and that money purchases all of the above.   BUT ... the one program which depends almost solely on multiple group participation .... AND MOSTLY KIDS ... is the full-day meal packet program to secure caregivers inside the hospital without adequate funds to sustain themselves while monitoring loved ones.  Quite frankly, without  the exceptional attention by church classes, Scout troops, School clubs, and individual families, this charity could not have sustained this vital program which allows UVA Social Workers  to identify someone in their section of the UVA Medical Center who is hungry, and feed that person. SO ... each opportunity to recognize these marvelous groups  is entered into these e-mails which are immediately placed in our blog site at http://www.interfaithsanctum.blogspot.com.  March is no exception. Just looking back over the Month 286 full-day meal packets were delivered to the Office of Social Work during the month of March. This is the highest monthly need in three years. Normal sustained monthly need has been about 200.   Throughout February  the lead group of kids for the program at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist in Charlottesville delivered their production of 282 full-day meals on March 5th. Louisa Scouts and a single family from Ivy added 149  more to top off the month.  That's a total of 431 packets!  Each packet has food items valued above $5.00.   Please read the latest notes from Tina Schweikart and Margaret Gorman below. NOW ... you can visualize how much is being produced by dedicated kids and how much is being used.  Hopefully, your personal group or family can pitch in Louisa scouts assembling food packages Notes from Louisa by Tina Schweikart On March 27th Louisa Cub Scout Pack 183 and Louisa Boy Scout Troop 3 combined their efforts and assembled full-day meal packets for the Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) Food Program. By working closely with Troop Master Harry Quarels, and Troop 3, cub scouts interact with older scouts forming a great bond in the community.  At the late March meeting, the boys packaged 119 complete full-day meal packets. A meal packet begins with a gallon-size zip lock bag with utensils and a diversity of food items. Each packet consists of healthy options for breakfast, lunch & dinner, as well as snacks and side dishes ~ food for an entire day! Each item is "ready to eat" or requires only hot water or a microwave to prepare. Supporting IHS and their efforts gives our cub scouts the opportunity to follow the Law of the Pack: "The Cub Scout follows Akela, the pack helps the Cub Scout grow, the Cub Scout helps the pack go, and a Cub Scout gives good will". Cub Scouts are able to give good will to the other people in our community. The boys are always very excited about bringing in the different items and picking out the components for assembling the meal packets. There is a sense of pride among them that this one thing is making a difference for someone else. The partnership with IHS continues to be a wonderful experience. The Pack will again provide this community service in October. A Note from Margaret Gorman The Cheng family delivers food to IHS storage office Last October I received an e-mail from Elaine Cheng, who lives in downtown Charlottesville. Elaine said:  "I'm looking for a way to have my children help the community. I read through some of your organization's literature and I think putting together meal packages would be a good way to get my kids involved." Fast forward to March 26, I received another note from Elaine asking where to drop off the meal packets. Project completed!   Elaine related her experience with this,  "I would like to take the kids (Alex 6 and Kate 4) when we deliver so they can help. It will help remind them why we are doing this and its effect. I have to say I did not do anything special for food shopping. I went to Krogers and just added the food item to my list. It was a lot of fun, but made my basket very, very full.  My husband and kids ran around the store finding the items we needed and loading up the cart while I did normal shopping. I asked Alex (my oldest) to write up a story and picture." On March 31 the Cheng family delivered their 30 full-day meal packets to the IHS storage office at 105 Crofton Plaza at Lake Monticello in the Palmyra area. Elaine related that this was a wonderful family endeavor. I thought I would relate this intimate experience, for it offers a opportunity to share how one family with small children can take time over many weeks, and become involved as they plan a strategy for buying, shopping  together, assembling together, and discussing the project and writing personal  notes of well wishes to recipients for each packet. Nice going ... Family Cheng!

A Case Profile and First Quarter 2012 Update ...

Another example of why we are called for lodging assistance Individual cases are altered for privacy, but it serves for you to know those situations whereby no other charity or hospital opportunity exists to assist. IHS responds immediately 24/7 to UVA Social Workers. All requests are screened and approved by Social Work staff.   Case Profile:  Received a call late night from social worker KR, who was trying to make a plan for a patient who lives about 200 miles from UVA Medical Center.  Procedure would be scheduled for a morning, but because the patient would necessarily need to be in a room for immediate access to a private restroom for the overnight flushing of the patient's system, this eliminated staying at UVA Hospitality House (HH) for the one night prior to the early morning procedure.  Hospitality House does not have private restrooms, but is configured more as a dormitory, and this very personal preparatory method causes problems for jointly used restrooms.  Only option:  A local commercial hotel room. The patient's only opportunity for the procedure is in Charlottesville. The patient is Pay Grade 1 (indigent) and not able to pay for a commercial hotel room. Patient has secured a friend with a car to drive and stay with the patient the night before. Also, the patient is not permitted to drive after the procedure which is about four hours one-way. Social Worker Exchange at 10 PM:  "That's the situation in order to have the patient secured and present for the scheduled morning procedure.  Hospitality House can't accommodate this situation. Do you think you could assist?"    IHS Response:   "Certainly ... just get me the details for making a reservation." Social Worker Return Call:  "I have spoken with the patient and she is so appreciative for this assistance.  Patient actually started to cry." Prominent numbers regarding  IHS Lodging Assistance (Jan. - Mar 20, 2012) January 2012  Total nights booked in commercial hotels:   7    which served 9 people                     Total nights assisting at Hospitality House 13   which served 2 people February 2012 Total nights booked in commercial hotels:   6     which served 10 people                     Total nights assisting at Hospitality House: 112  which served  6 people March 2012    Total nights booked in commercial hotels:    10    which served 17 people          No Hospitality Rooms booked in March to date (March lodging through March 20) Update on Infant Car Seats, and a new unmet need in Pediatric Clinic Baby Car Seats:  January-March  20, 2012:  IHS delivered  9  infant car seats and 2 very small infant car seats  to UVA Social Office for Pediatric Clinics.  Balance remaining in stock: 5 regular infant car seats. Electric Breast Pumps: January-March 20, 2012:  IHS was asked to assist those mothers in Pediatrics who are not insured for electric breast pumps and have an immediate need from 1-2 months. IHS secured rental for two women during this first quarter of 2012.   Update on Food Program (January - March 20,  2012) UVA Medical Center IHS Food Program:  During this period a total of 538 full-day meal packets were delivered for access by all Social Workers through Clinical Social Worker Coordinator Teresa Bevins. Full-day Meal Packet items are purchased and assembled by volunteer groups. Cost for making one meal packet is about five dollars. The lead contributor for this quarter and the major annual contributor in Charlottesville was the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist  Sunday School students with marvelous church support. The Key Club of Western Albemarle High School in Ivy, Virginia was also a donor in February.   UVA Hospitality House Food Program:  During this period  total food purchases were $709.14. IHS consults with the Hospitality House Manager weekly to insure that adequate food supplies are in house for indigent patients. IHS delivers from 2-4 times monthly as supplies are required.   IHS Food program:  For groups such as Scouts, Sunday School classes, Day Schools, School and Private Clubs, Businesses, etc. who would like to participate during the year, please access the following link for a description of the program and another link for downloading a guide for making a full-day meal packet. This is an on-going project in need of many participants. http://www.interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org/food.php FINAL REMINDER:  Unless specifically indicated, money donations are directed to the general fund to cover lodging accommodations, co-pay and after hours prescriptions.  The "Baby Fund" account and "Food Fund" can be designated  by a donor when a donation is sent by check or PayPal.  Contributions by U.S. Postal System to:  IHS,  P.O. Box 163, Palmyra, Virginia 22963. Thanks for your on-going consideration ... T. Wade Clegg III

Children Involved with Serious Giving

Exceeding Expectations - Notes from Margaret Gorman Teacher & Students working together The children of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist  in Charlottesville, Virginia  spent the month of February examining the issue of "Justice." They explored the issue of economic justice and hunger, and they assembled meal packets to donate to the IHS.  Our goal was for them to put together 100 full-day meal packets over three weeks and budgeted for this amount. However, at the end of the first Sunday we were astonished to find the children had used up all the supplies and we had 100 meal packets ready to put in boxes for the UVA Medical Center .   Scrambling to increase the numbers We scrambled to purchase supplies for another 100 meals. We thought this first group of children was unusual in their zeal and efficiency. We were wrong. After our second week we found ourselves with combined total of 181 complete meals sitting in boxes ready for the hospital.  Our church's Social Action Committee picked up the bill for our cost over-run but we still had another week of Justice lessons. We went shopping again for supplies and the Religious Education Program absorbed the cost. Looking over foods to be assembled into packages Who would have thought? On the final Sunday we had very young children - first and second grade - assemble meals. We did not think they could put together 100 meals and prepared to ask the teen youth group to finish the task another week. Well, we were wrong. You can see photos of this group of children at work on our final Sunday. Note how happy they are! And efficient! The only bottle neck was they are still young writers so it took them extra time to write their greeting cards. Fortunately our photographer, Mike, stopped by the classroom and heeded the pleading looks from the teachers to help put the cards in the bags and seal them for storage. The total number of meals was 282. Kids assembling packages together making a difference Involving all ages in the giving programs This is a fun and rewarding activity for all ages. Our church has now had children as young as two and three, and through our seniors, participate. Everyone understands what this is about and why it is important to help people who come to our community and  need our assistance. I would encourage any group of friends, scouts, clubs or churches to put together any number of meals for the IHS. The 10 meals we received from a preschool are just as welcome as the 282 that our church put together in our meal packet assembly line. A Final Reminder This program had a theme to explore and a minimum objective. When the enthusiasm is high and parents and church committees are prepared, the kids are a force to behold.  Visit the IHS Food Program and  link for what is involved.  Set a realistic objective and  pick a month when your church, club, business or scout troop can add to the numbers.  Remember - IHS needs about 250 meal packets every month. Thanks for your attention ... Margaret

February Assistance Noted - March Planning Active!

Infant Car Seat Project making a difference The following note was received on February 23rd, the day after delivering two more infant car seats to the UVA Social Work Office.  IHS  has delivered eight (8) infant car seats since beginning the "Baby Program" in December. Social Worker EB wrote, "I  gave out two car seats this week to women with very difficult situations. They were both very appreciative. One was brought to tears. She had been so worried about not having a way to get some of the things they need. I am very judicious about car seats, as I want patients to be responsible for their own as much as possible. I had two situations in this one week in which it felt really good to have car seats to offer. Thanks so much.  EB" Cosco Scenera seat, a truly reasonable investment A Big Thanks to Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) Daniel Dias, with the DJG Institutional Sales Team in Foxboro, MA sent IHS  six(6)  FREE Cosco Scenera infant car seats, which arrived by Federal Express on February 20th.  DJG does not have an official grant program, and mostly only donates to a local Safe Kids Coalition; however, Daniel said he would ship 6 seats to help our efforts.  NOW  we have those six seats in storage just as we gave out the first seats donated by friends of IHS.  Thusfar, thanks to the DJG donation, we have now obtained 14 seats.  Thanks to Daniel for his quick response! Infant Clothing Receipt last week for Baby Program Another objective is to keep enough infant clothing on hand for these same infants when they leave the hospital.  Dawn Cleveland of Ivy, Virginia provided three boxes containing over 140 baby clothing items.  Thanks Dawn for this sizable contribution.  Service Project at Western Albemarle High School Notes from Margaret Gorman  Western Albemarle High School The Key Club at Western Albemarle High School in Crozet, Virginia assembled 50 full day meal packets at their meeting on Thursday, February 16th. The club received donations for this activity from Harris Teeter Grocery Store (Crozet), and from the Great Value Grocery Store (Crozet) and Sam's Club in Charlottesville. Club members also brought in items for the meal packets. This service project was organized by Key Club member Angela Li. We are very grateful to the students in the club and to the other Western Albemarle High School students who came to the club meeting to help assemble the packets. Your concern and actions mean a lot to the people at the University of Virginia Medical Center who received your support. Thank you. Louisa Cub Scouts Gearing up for March Food Assembly Session Notes from Louisa, VA by Tina Schweikart On March 27th Louisa Cub Scout Pack 183 and Louisa Boy Scout Troop 3 will combine their efforts to assemble full-day meal packets for the Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) Food Program for caregivers and families who come to the UVA Medical Center with patients from long distances without adequate funds for eating. Twice yearly in March and October, Pack 183 hosts an "assembly line" production to collect and assemble meal packets for IHS. Each time, one local Boy Scout Troop joins the effort.  Cub Scout Pack 183 is lead by Pack Master Jim Snider which currently has 59 boys registered.  Troop 3 is lead by Troop Master Harry Quarles, and is a long standing troop in Louisa.  The boys and their families meet at the Louisa Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia  at 6:30PM. Meal Packets consist of healthy options for breakfast, lunch & dinner, as well as snacks and side dishes.  Each item is "ready to eat" or requires only hot water or a microwave to prepare. For a detailed list for review and download, visit the IHS website Food Program page. Then after reading about the program, click on the link for the handout.    If you wish to contribute to meal collections, or for more information on our combined scout efforts in Louisa,  please contact Tina Schweikart, Bear Cub Leader with Pack 183 at  jtschweikart@aol.com  or 540-894-9854.  Thanks so much!   Sincerely ... T. Wade

Some Points of Clarification ... Well Worth Repeating

UVA Medical Center is one of two Virginia Hospitals offering state-supported opportunities to those often referred to as Pay Grade One (indigent category). This institution is also a major center for a vast number of specialists in every medical discipline who can offer diagnosis and treatment not possible in vast numbers of towns and communities in the State of Virginia. Vikki Bravo, a Clinical Social Worker in the UVA Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center (ECCCC),  offered this comment last year, and it is still  relevant today: "We work with many indigent patients, who even if they receive discounted or free care, cannot afford the expenses of lodging, food, gas." She added, "Sometimes they can stay at our Hospitality House, but if there are no openings, or they have children under 18, they need to stay in hotels. We are fortunate that the University of Virginia has a state-supported discount system, but if a person can't afford to get here or stay (and eat) overnight, then all the other benefits don't help." How far are patients traveling to secure this lifeline at UVA Medical Center? UVA Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center When we speak of lodging assistance for people coming from a "distance," many people don't realize how far these patients must travel for medical assistance which is only provided to them in Charlottesville. Once again, planning for that decision for vital treatment so far from home presents a tremendous challenge for families already under water financially.   We reviewed just the last 45 days for a partial list of those hometowns of patients, with the majority being served in the UVA Hospital's Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center.  This sampling of distances included Danville, VA (138 miles);  Freis, VA (197 miles); Jewell Ridge, VA (266 miles); Ransom, WV (157 miles); Springfield, VA (105 miles); Coal City, WV (200 miles); Alexandria, VA (112 miles), etc.  The average distance was 176 miles one way for fifteen (15) patients and families which IHS assisted with lodging in this 6 week period.   Most  of these patients, already experiencing very real limitations, are driven by a caregiver. Others arrive alone via a Medicaid vehicle or commercial bus. A few long term cases actually must bring a child with them when no one is in their life to assist. Appointments are critical to their well-being, and many do repeat visits.   Almost three years dedicated to 24/7 contact for UVA Medical Center Social Workers IHS activated an open line for the UVA Social Staff in April 2009. The objective was to have one dependable charity which would respond with temporary assistance for lodging, food, and overnight emergency co-pay and prescriptions. It is an understatement to say that this can be a challenge for a few people available solely as volunteers every day and night of the year. However, we have managed to balance personal lives to stay at the task.   The Full-day Meal Packet Program Assures that No Caregiver Goes Hungry Thanks to Margaret Gorman's wonderful involvement with IHS in late 2008, beginning with the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church Sunday School classes, she engaged other churches, Boy and Girl Scout Troops, and even neighborhood groups to make full-day meal packets. These meals are placed  in the UVA Medical Center Social Office every two weeks to serve those caregivers without proper nourishment stranded with patients. Food Program is on-going in 2012 ... and always in need of active participation Thomas Jefferson Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church Margaret's TJMC UU Church just delivered another 52 meals from the Youth Group assembly session on January 22nd.  Thanks to  Morgan, Emily, Esther, Jarad, Patrick, and their leaders Amy, Carrie and John.  The Church's Religious Education Program is presently involved in another assembly session to provide another 100 full day meals in February.   A belated mention goes out to Boy Scout Troop 36, which meets at Charlottesville's First Methodist Church.  Back in late December, Troop Leader Don Kimpel, delivered 50 meal packets which were collected for use in January.   As a Final Reminder ... Where to Find Details for Participating and Making Meal Packets! The menu options are expanding on the website Home Page by clicking onto http://www.interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org,  which says "Welcome."   Across the top of the Welcome page is the designation: Food Program. This offers a full description of the Meal Packet Program and the food program for the UVA Hospitality House. There is now a link in the Meal Packet Program on one page for down-load which describes the program, how one can be involved and a complete list of potential items to include in making a gallon size zip lock package.  Whether a family, class, club or scout troop ... the objective is still 250 meal packets monthly to meet present needs.  We would truly appreciate your involvement.   Sincerely ... T. Wade

Please Read What the Doctor said, and More ...

February is off to an active start, especially for lodging assistance for indigent patients staying for up to 30 days at UVA Auxiliary Hospitality House (HH).  Chemotherapy treatment can take many days, and although an exceptional room rate is allowed for these distance patients, their personal funds simply can't sustain them. Also, you will be pleased to know that our every other week food delivery to HH is so appreciated. I know it is, since Mary Jackson, Manager, tells us weekly. Response from Dr. Douglas Willson, UVA Children's Hospital Following the last e-mail and blog entry regarding the support of children in the UVA Hospital, Teresa Bevins,  Clinical social worker in PICU and 7 Central at the UVA Hospital (and the Social Work  coordinator with IHS  for our patient and caregiver programs), received the following letter.  It is a delight to share it with you. From Douglas F. Willson, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Anesthesiology            UVA Children's Hospital, Division of Pediatric Critical Care            UVA Health Services System, Charlottesville, Virginia Re: Car seats for children Dear Teresa, I couldn't be more supportive of your project to get car seats for children. I've been practicing Pediatric Critical Care now for 30 years and over that time I have seen a steady decrease in the numbers and severity of infants injured in motor vehicle accidents. While some of this comes undoubtedly from safer cars, much of it is attributable to effective car seats. Even with safer cars, an infant not secured in an effective car seat becomes a projectile. Because of their relatively heavier heads and lack of muscle strength the most common injuries we see are severe brain trauma and spine injuries. These are tragic. It is the old adage about, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."  I've often thought that for the cost of providing care - often long term care - for one infant injured because he/she was not securely fastened in a car seat we could supply every infant in Charlottesville and surrounding counties with a car seat for the next decade. This, of course, ignores the human tragedy.   I believe that the ability to provide care to injured and other critically ill children is very important to society. However, if the choice were between preventive efforts such as car seats and support for critical care, preventive efforts would be my priority. No child should ever be in a moving automobile without being securely and safely restrained. For infants this means a quality car seat appropriately installed. I would ask that along with providing the car seat the parent(s) be instructed how to install the seat.    My kids are older now (and always wear their seatbelts), but they were ALWAYS in a car seat while in the car when they were little. I remember one time pulling out of the driveway and my daughter had not yet buckled herself in. She became hysterical, crying, "I'm not in my car seat!" That should tell you how much I stressed to my kids that this was important. They got the message. Please let me know if there is anything more I can do to support you in this endeavor. This is a great thing you are trying to do and I commend you for your efforts. Sincerely, Doug Willson, UVA Children's Hospital (ORIGINAL WAS SIGNED) Quick Update on Baby Program As of January 30, 2012, this past Monday, IHS has delivered four (4) new infant car seats. As of February 3, 2012 (Thursday) we purchased four(4) additional seats to be delivered as needed for Teresa Bevins to keep in the Social Work Office for use by all Pediatric Clinics for indigent families in need at the time of their infant's release. A consistent helper, UVA Hospital Loading Dock Manager, Jimmie Glasgow, assists Teresa Bevins, Clincal Social Worker, and monitor for the IHS Food Program and Baby Program with delivery of new infant car seats delivered as needed by Rev. T. Wade Clegg III of IHS. Mr. Glasgow has responded enthusiastically with stacking bi-monthly full-day meal boxes onto dollies for transport to the Social Work Office for the last year, and secured parking when school visits were arranged for children to visit Ms. Bevins for briefings.   Our objective for 2012 is still thirty (30) seats, and of course infant clothing (new or not so new for ages 3 -36 months); therefore, any individual, business, church, school, class or club, etc. can donate $35.00 and  dedicate that donation for the Baby Program.  IHS will purchase a new infant car seat and deliver to the UVA Hospital as the calls dictate the need.  We will always deliver two seats at a time in order to have an extra seat readily available. Remember - for more details on the program, refer to the blog entry of January 20, 2012. If this present article is already on the blog by the time you are reading Dr. Willson's letter, then click on the blog site and scroll on down to that introduction to the IHS Baby Program.  The charity blog site is http://www.interfaithsanctum.blogspot.com.  Sincerely ... T. Wade