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Reasons to Celebrate
Dwight Wilson, Executive Director
We have been busy this summer! We were gratified to see so many supporters at our first June in Bloom event and to have the opportunity to share the beauty and grace of Celia’s House. With your help, we’ve created a home that has served over 500 individuals and their families. With your support, we are able to provide care to everyone, regardless of their economic means or cultural background. With your generosity, we can respond to emergent situations, such as the recent admittance of a homeless individual.
For those of you who shop at The HUB, you may have noticed an uptick in their special events. In the spring, they held a linen sale, a Couture Fashion show, an art sale, and a silent auction during the June in Bloom event. This month they hosted a rug sale at their Ashland warehouse. The energy and excitement that these events have generated speaks to the quality of The HUB leadership and its great group of volunteers. The support that The HUB provides to Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice is invaluable.
In addition to our spectacular volunteer programs at both Celia’s House and The HUB, our Chaplain and Spiritual Care volunteer program has exceeded everyone’s expectations. In six short months, and under Mary Piper’s leadership, 15 trained spiritual care volunteers now give their time to provide spiritual support to Celia’s House residents, families, and staff.
Education outreach continues again this year, and we have another OLLI end-of-life class offering.
I want to thank our departing Volunteer Coordinator, Eleanor Crescenzi, for playing a major role in supporting the Celia’s House volunteers. Eleanor recently completed her master’s degree in social work and has taken a position with La Clinica as a behavioral health clinician, working with children. While we will miss her, we wish her all the best in her new career. We are delighted to welcome Brie Belanger as our new Volunteer Coordinator and look forward to working with her.
I cannot close without thanking all those who have contributed to this year’s spring appeal. We are very close to making our goal. If you have not yet donated to this campaign, I’d like to assure you that your donations make possible the services and programs that we and you are so proud of. Thank you for your past and ongoing support.
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Photos from June in Bloom
Photos by Emily Kingsbury
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Guests were offered a program at the garden entrance, and Celia's House garden volunteers offered tours around the botanical garden. | |
Guests enjoying hors d'oeuvres and refreshments before gathering for the announcement of the Distinguished Service Award recipient. | |
Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice volunteers and guests watching as Trudy Duncan accepted the 2023 Distinguished Service Award. | |
Several tables were set up in the shade throughout Celia's House gardens for guests to enjoy food, drinks, conversation, and live music. | |
Classical Guitarist, Grant Ruiz, and his partner, Mary La, played beautiful music all afternoon. Grant & Mary have played at Celia's House events, as well as for residents and their families. | |
Trudy Duncan, (middle) accepting the Distinguished Service Award, presented to her from Norman Fincher (left), Board Chair & President, and board member, Fred Bockstahler. | |
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Meet Brie Belanger, Volunteer Coordinator
Cheryl French, Volunteer
| Call it divine intervention, fate, happy coincidence, or karma; Brie Belanger, Celia’s House Volunteer Coordinator, knew the job was for her. | |
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Brie was previously a licensed EMT, and then became a full-time caregiver for her ailing mother, while raising her two daughters and attending college. Recently she received her Bachelor of Science degree in healthcare administration.
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After years of care, her mother’s health deteriorated to the point that she could no longer be cared for at home. Brie had heard about Celia’s House from her mom’s hospice nurse and her mother became a resident until she died in May of this year. Brie said, “As soon as I brought Mom to Celia’s House, I didn’t want to leave. It was the greatest gift I have ever received. It was peaceful and full of love and kindness. I couldn’t believe a retired cardiologist (John Forsyth, resident support volunteer) made me a root beer float!” | |
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During her mother’s stay, Brie was starting to think about her transition from caregiver to full-time employment. In June she was looking online at jobs and saw a notice that there was an opening at Celia’s House. “I applied immediately, and the rest is history. It felt like my mom was a matchmaker between Celia’s House and me. I had already met John Forsyth, Chaplain Mary Piper, and Dwight Wilson came to visit my mom once when my daughters and I were with her. Mom brought me to all these wonderful people and opportunities.”
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Brie sees her job as connecting and supporting volunteers in whatever way they want to serve. Celia’s House has about 100 people who fill many roles from front desk greeters, resident support volunteers, food servers, bedside companions to residents and families, gardeners, to spiritual care volunteers. Others serve from their areas of special expertise, such as music and healing touch therapy.
Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer may contact Brie at:
Brieann.Belanger@sofriendsofhospice.org
Cell: 541-690-9832
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Oliver, The Beloved Cat of Celia's House | |
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Oliver, the beloved cat of Celia’s House, died June 15th, but his legacy lives on. Oliver was a beautiful orange tabby cat, and for the first couple of years that Celia’s House was open, he lived in the house and spent time with residents, staff, and volunteers. Oliver was a Celia’s House favorite, cuddling up next to those who desired his presence and roaming throughout the beautiful gardens.
Sarah Bieniek worked at Celia’s house during the time Oliver was here, and when it was realized Oliver needed a more permanent home, Sarah's special bond with Oliver lead to her to take him home. He lived a happy life with her for several years, dying at the age of 18, a long and happy life in “cat years”.
We recognize the positive impact Oliver had on so many, and a memorial brick will be placed in Celia’s House Reflection Garden next spring.
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We Are $14,000 Away from our Goal
Lily Herwald, Director of Development & Communications
On April 1st, we launched our campaign to raise $200,000 for the Care Fund, Spiritual Care, and the general operating needs of Celia's House. We are deeply grateful to those who have already contributed! However, we must still raise $14,000 by July 31st to reach our goal.
We invite you to join your fellow community members and contribute today: sofriendsofhospice.org/care-fund-spiritual-care-program/
Celia's House remains dedicated to providing compassionate end-of-life care for individuals from all financial and cultural backgrounds. We firmly believe everyone deserves access to quality care, regardless of economic circumstances. Through our sliding-scale fees and financial assistance programs, we ensure that no one is turned away due to their inability to pay.
Your contribution directly enhances the lives of Celia's House residents. By supporting us, you become integral to our mission to offer comfort, dignity, and respect to our residents, their families, and friends.
We would be honored to guide you on a Celia's House tour to witness firsthand the profound impact your contribution has on the lives of our residents. Please join us in creating a community that values and supports individuals during their most vulnerable moments.
Contribute today and experience the difference you can make at Celia's House.
Call 907-713-7814 or 541-500-8911 ext. 308
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1618 Ashland Street, Ashland, OR
Store Hours:
Monday – Saturday, 10:30am – 5:00pm;
Closed Sunday.
(541) 488-7805
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- Donation hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10:30am - 4:00pm.
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The HUB's Silent Auction at June in Bloom was a Huge Success - Thanks to You! | |
What a successful day! The HUB held a silent auction at the first ever June in Bloom at Celia’s House on Sunday, June 25. Fine art, jewelry, collectibles, and one-of-a-kind items were auctioned off, raising $5,285 in support of Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice and Celia’s House. We feel feel deep gratitude and appreciation to our donors, bidders and winners. | |
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"Visiting our dear friend at Celia's House was special because it truly felt like home.
We were always offered a meal and felt so welcomed every time we came to spend time with her in her room. The volunteers and staff always said hello to us, and even though we were struck with grief, we were taken care of in many ways. This has been a really hard time, but Celia's House has made it more manageable." -C
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We are Here to Help. Please Give Us a Call.
For questions regarding admission, please call
(650) 743-7997
For general information, please call (541) 500-8911
or email us at info@sofriendsofhospice.org
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