Amazon Shopping Can Benefit This Charity ...

A few minutes of your time to read and sign up will do a lot of good in due course Many large retail firms allow a percent of a sale to be dedicated to a charity or school. It may seem like so little, since we are talking about a half a penny for every dollar, but over the course of a year and a sizable number of purchases, it might mean a commercial hotel room for an indigent family. Normal Amazon shopping and it costs you nothing! Earlier this year Amazon introduced a new program called AmazonSmile, which will automatically donate 0.5% of your purchases to the Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. if you register and select our charity for consideration. It costs you nothing, and it's just like shopping on Amazon normally, but you get to do a world of good to help with the unmet needs in the area for patients and families at UVA Medical Center. Make it easy: add a bookmark to AmazonSmile,  return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile Please be aware of the items that are eligible for the donations. These will always be marked as such on each of their product pages. There is a special URL that it is necessary to use in order to be part of the donation program.  You may also want to add a bookmark to AmazonSmile to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile. This is the only real catch ... you must start your shopping at http://smile.amazon.com (and do not forget you have to update your automatic bookmark if you want to participate in this). Once you are successfully logged into the Smile Program, you will notice the logo, "Amazon Smile" will be located in the upper left corner of your home page on the http://smile.amazon.com site. Note: It is not necessary to have created an annual paid subscription to "Amazon Prime" membership in order to participate. There are no restrictions to anyone making part of their purchase on Amazon.com to go to IHS. That first visit to AmazonSmile is important to secure the automatic donations On your first visit to AmazonSmile website, you need to manually enter Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, Inc. in the selection box to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. The Amazon system will remember your selection of IHS from now on, and then every eligible purchase you make on AmazonSmile will result in a donation of 0.5%. There are always some limitations, but they are few. READ ON... Unfortunately, Subscribe-and-Save purchases and renewals don't count. In addition, shopping from the Amazon apps, Kindle, or through affiliate links won't count either. Purchases made using an Amazon Shopping App are not currently eligible for donations. Purchases made from any Kindle E-reader device through the Kindle Store are not eligible for donations. Otherwise, it's just like shopping on Amazon only you get to support IHS without doing anything extra. Lots of options for shopping and a little time to change a bookmark makes a difference So, you can now shop on http://smile.amazon.com using an internet browser on your desktop or laptop computer, your mobile phone, or your tablet (including any Kindle Fire device), then your AmazonSmile purchases will be eligible for donations. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same. Just a little time to change a bookmark can make such a big difference to so many with so little that really need help with unmet needs. For other questions that might arise or information on the program, please consult the FAQ page at: http://smile.amazon.com/about. At some point many will turn to Amazon for saving on a particular item, especially for holiday gifts, or anytime for a newly released book. Make sure you are into AmazonSmile so your purchases are adding to opportunities for others.  Finally, if you run into technical problems or challenges setting up your account, please provide a phone number in an email to ihsanctum@gmail.com ATTENTION: Sam McLawhorn. Sam will help you to solve your issues if at all possible via phone. We want this to be a pleasurable experience for everyone who wishes to help. Blessings ...  ALL of us at IHS

J & E Berkley Foundation's Continued Support in 2014!

The J &E Berkley Grant for Spring 2014 so vital to IHS Programs We received the announcement from Chris Pasmore, Executive Director, J & E Berkley Foundation, that IHS had been selected for a grant of $10,000 at the Foundation meeting on May 7, 2014. This specific grant will allow for about fifty percent of projected annual funding support for IHS lodging, emergency prescriptions and co-pays, and pediatric needs (such as infant car seats). The grant is not used to support the IHS Food Program. Third Consecutive Year that IHS has received the J&E Berkley Spring Grant IHS has now received from the Foundation a total of $23,000 over the last three years. This third year assistance comes at a time when commercial lodging and UVA Hospitality House fees have increased, while IHS's obligation to the least able to afford overnight accommodations remains firm. The Application for the Foundation Grant for 2014 offered this Brief Description "IHS is the "go to" 24/7 public charity accessed by UVA Medical Center Social Workers for underfunded long distance patients and family members who meet Social Worker criteria for assistance after being screened and approved as eligible. The project for which funds are being sought is for this charity to continue to respond for immediate temporary assistance for lodging, emergency prescriptions, and pediatric assistance by a Social Worker. This on-going work has been and continues to be the reason that people are not sleeping in cars with their children and with nothing to eat when waiting for a next day medical appointment, or monitoring the critical condition of a loved one in the UVA Medical Center. It is also the answer to underfunded patients leaving for a trip home to have a prescribed medication after hours to maintain their well-being, as well as for an indigent parent to have an infant car seat made available so they can legally leave the hospital with an infant child." IHS is one among many non-profits who benefits from this generous Foundation The J & E Berkley Foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations for programs in Charlottesville and its contiguous central Virginia counties. The foundation, which focuses its funding on the whole community, supports programs that address the prevention of social and environmental problems and improvement of the quality of life. Thank you Director Chris Pasmore and the Members of the Foundation ... from ALL of US at IHS and the Staff at UVA Medical Center.

UVA Medical Center Department of Surgery Staff produces a full-month's supply of meal packets!

The following article regarding the meal-making project by the Department of Surgery on May 14th was written by Brian Murphy, Lead Editor, Internal Communications, UVA Health Systems Marketing,  and was published internally at UVA Medical Center.  It is being shared for further exposure for all IHS friends. Surgery Meal-Packet Team: Assembled!  by Brian Murphy Dr. Irving Kron, MD, and Dean Nancy Dunlap, MD, PhD, MBA Many of our patients and families travel great distances to receive their care from us. And some of them need more than medical assistance when they arrive. The Meal Packet Program, from the Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum, is one tool available to these individuals where they can be provided with a packet containing enough nutritious food to feed one person for one day. The packets are kept and distributed by social workers here at UVA. The Department of Surgery recently organized a "meal packet" assembly day as a team-building volunteer effort across their department. Together, the team assembled a total of 304 meals for patients in need. "The leadership at the Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum told us that the summertime often brings a shortage of donations for the meal packet program," says Sandra Burks, RN, Associate Director, Surgical Therapeutic Advancement Center, "so we are excited that we can help to provide meals for families at UVA who may be in need during this time." Burks adds: "One of our goals in Surgery has been to build on our sense of community, and being a part of this meal packing program has been a really great way for folks in different areas to get to know other people whom they might not otherwise encounter every day. The primary goal has been to serve our mutual patients and families - but the bonus of working alongside new friends has been great!" Marianne Capone, MSW, LCSW, Social Work Manager, says: "Think of the expense of feeding a family of three or four people over several days while they are here supporting a loved one during a medical crisis. The Meal Packet program is one of the things that we can make available to families and caregivers to ease that burden." The Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS) is an independent, non-religious, all volunteer public charity working to support patients and families who travel to UVA seeking care and who need assistance with basic needs. To learn more about the Meal Packet program or IHS, please visit: www.interfaithhumanitariansanctum.org.

IHS Volunteer Meal-Makers Made Big Impact over Last Six Weeks

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!

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 growth As 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.

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. IHS Promotional Video Thanks to all involved 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.

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 Coordinator "The Uniteens are a group of middle school students who attend Unity and gather as a group twice a month to learn and share spiritually. As part of a first-ever service project sleep-over event, seven of our teens joined together to assemble meal packets for Interfaith Humanitarian Sanctum (IHS). With financial assistance from the congregation and ministers at Unity of Charlottesville - Reverend Don Lansky and Reverend Patricia Gulino Lansky - and shopping help provided by Youth Minister Kate Adamson, the Uniteens were able to purchase enough products for 24 healthy full-day meals. The enthusiasm shown by these young people was delightful! To make things 'flow', they lined up in a circle and began playing the beat to "The Cup Song", filling up gallon zipper bags with everything from plastic-ware and paper bowls to healthy snacks, breakfast, and lunch and dinner items. Their joy and enthusiasm was contagious! As a special treat for their efforts, the teens were joined by Reverend Don Lansky - who treated them to dinner! 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! Two members of the Uniteens spoke to our congregation the next day about their experience and how wonderful they felt being able to be of service.  What an amazing group of young people! I feel so blessed to be able to spend time with them. We thank IHS for the opportunity to express the Unity teaching of putting our love into action in the world!                                                      Blessings ... Gina Leah Become 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