Volunteers & Friends Lifting Up Our Mission
June 2021
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Celia's House was created through the great generosity and mighty spirit of hundreds of community volunteers and generous supporters. In honor of our recent three-year anniversary of being in operation, we salute and honor the many facets of our supporters who continue to sustain the vision of Celia's House - our beautiful residential hospice home with expert, mindfully-focused care, for those facing end of life in Southern Oregon. |
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A Celia's House Family Experience Inspires
-- Launches a New Donation Matching Challenge
By Julie Raefield, Development Director
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“I was married for 50 years,” shared Mrs. T. “Having nearly died in the hospital 20 years ago, I was sure I was going to be the one to go first. I was also sure I didn’t want to die at home. I wanted my husband to be free to live his life in our home without that memory.”
But an unexpected terminal diagnosis for her husband in the summer of 2018 changed their future. “My husband lived just four months from the time he was diagnosed,” shared Mrs. T. “Thankfully, our hospital social worker told us about Celia’s House and we were able to spend the last seven days of his life there. Like me, my husband wanted a safe place to pass, separate from our home, and Celia’s House was that place.”
In gratitude for the care her husband and her family received at Celia’s House, Mrs. T joined our Volunteers and Friends Appeal on June 15, by offering a third match challenge to our community of supporters. Her hope is to encourage another $10,000 in donations towards this year’s operating gap by matching every gift up to that amount.
Sharing the reason behind her gift and challenge, Mrs. T said, “There are just some special things that happen at Celia’s House. I wish everyone would have this opportunity at the end of life and I want to do everything I can to help.”
Mrs. T shared a story from her experience that holds meaning for her. “Before my husband died, our family was able to hold our own small service together in Celia’s House – with music (violin and singing) and a faith speaker. We were all there together even though my husband could no longer speak. It was very important to us, and the staff made that possible and meaningful. Then, something else came from that moment.
“There was another family in the room upstairs from my husband’s and they were going through a struggle as their loved one’s life was ending. We learned that the sounds of the music from our gathering helped them in their journey. Knowing that we helped them, helped our family as well. That would not have happened in a hospital.
“I hope my gift will encourage others. I’ve spent a lot of time in hospitals and have a lot of respect for what they do, but Celia’s House and the staff are something very special.”
To have your gift be eligible for this generous 100% match, please make your donation via our online donation program link below or by mailing your gift to Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice 217 S. Modoc Avenue, Medford, OR 97504. For this appeal you may specify your gift to: provide care scholarships for low-income residents, pay down the mortgage or help fill the general operating gap.
Celia's House and Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice wish to thank Mrs. T who, though wishing to remain anonymous, has shared her care story with us as well as her match challenge gift in support of our Volunteers & Friends Appeal!
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Volunteer Spotlight - Colleen Searle
Answering a Call to Care
By Julie Raefield, Development Director
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With her welcoming smile and gentle presence, Celia’s House volunteer Colleen Searle has quietly been offering her heart and hands in support of Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice for just about 13 years - right from our very origin.
“I just love being here at Celia’s House,” said Colleen. “I think I was drawn to support hospice care after taking care of my own father. I wish I had known about hospice then but I didn’t learn about it until after he died."
One of the first volunteers to join our Founders in their efforts to support hospice care in Southern Oregon, Colleen recalls the first garage sale in July 2008 that raised $2,500 in community donations as start-up for the new nonprofit. She has since worked as HUB volunteer, a bedside volunteer and now, as a greeter.
Colleen, reaching the vibrant age of 90, has had to step back from her Celia’s House bedside companion duties due to the COVID pandemic, but still keeps her once-a-week commitment at the greeter’s desk. “I really miss being at the bedside with residents,” she said, “but I'm happy I can still help in this way.”
Colleen embodies the mindfulness that Celia’s House trains each volunteer and staff to practice. “This is a meaningful experience for me. It is never difficult. I think the volunteer training I received took away any apprehension I have had. I knew, before I took the wonderful training here, that this was my calling,” added Colleen.
“I have no medical background. Most of my married life I stayed at home, raising our three boys. When they were older I returned to the "working world" as librarian. At Celia's House I have loved being with the residents - talking with them, sometimes reading to them, and often just being a quiet presence. I have been privileged to have these relationships. I truly believe in this wonderful model of care.Celia’s House is a remarkable place.”
And, if Colleen's story inspires...
Volunteer Greeters Are Needed! If you have a warm smile and the ability to welcome visitors and family, Celia's House continues to need door greeter volunteers, weekdays and Saturdays available for 2 hour shifts. Even one day a month helps us help our families! Please contact Sue Carroll, Volunteer Coordinator to learn more at Sue.Carroll@sofriendsofhospice.org or 541-500-8911 (ext. 304 - Option 5).
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Exciting News on the Fundraising Appeal! |
We are nearly there! As of June 19, we have received $105,450 in gifts from our wonderful community of donors, and as noted above, just received a new pledge of $10,000 to match any incoming Volunteers & Friends Appeal donations (up to that amount) between now and July 31st!
We are SO grateful to all the 159 donors who have given so far, and our first match challenge benefactors! Our volunteers have inspired a tremendous outpouring of support. When we receive $10,000 in new donations to match the new challenge gift, we will reach our goal of $125,000 - translating to 316 nights of care at Celia's House! That will go a long way toward covering the annual operating gap predicted for 2021 due to COVID impacts and ensuring we can serve hospice residents at our full capacity.
Our VOLUNTEERS & FRIENDS appeal so far has raised:
- $11,035 in Care Fund contributions (care grants for those in need)
- $87,731 to help Fill the Gap for our Annual Operating needs
- $ 6,684 to Pay Down Celia’s House Mortgage
Please help us match Mrs. T's generous new $10,000 challenge gift -- which will double your gift's impact -- by sending your donation by mail to Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice, 217 S. Modoc Avenue, Medford, OR 97504, or call the administrative offices M-F 10-3pm, to give over the phone at 541-500-8911. Our online donation page may be reached by clicking the link below.
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An Inspiring Father and A Legacy for Celia's House Families |
Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice honors all the fathers who have been cared for, or nurtured by the care provided, at Celia's House.
A special moment of gratitude goes to Celia's House past resident Acton E. Black, Jr. whose family created the Acton E. Black Family Food Program at Celia's House. The program raises funds to cover the cost of meals for visiting families.
“Dad was so kind and had a smile for everyone. He felt it was so important to make people feel recognized,” said Lynn Black, Acton's daughter, summarizing the family's reason behind starting the program.
Acton Black’s commitment to giving respect to others and building community will live on in a special way at Celia’s House through this program to help other families.
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If you wish to nurture the soul of our families with food as they support their loved ones, you can contribute to support family meals in honor of this loving father, or a beloved father figure in your life. Please visit our website donation page and select the Black Family Food Program under the "Appeal" button.
To view a short interview with the Black Family about their Celia's House experience, please click the button below:
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Garden Volunteers Celebrate Donated Shed!
A Garden Beloved by All, Now Has Room for More Gardeners with Heart
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Two beautiful acres of botanical garden surrounding Celia's House provide so much beauty for our residents, families, staff and volunteers, but also keep our volunteer gardening crew very busy. Their tender care, often in challenging weather, has found a hero, albeit an anonymous one.
A spacious garden shed, manufactured locally and donated by a garden enthusiast who honors the Celia's House mission, was recently constructed alongside the driveway entrance, providing much needed storage space for our team's myriad of tools.
We also gratefully received a donated cupola for the shed from another garden team member that matches a similar feature in our historic home. Other volunteers painted, provided carpentry, cut concrete and laid ground cover to make it look it's best.
The new shed's interior has been meticulously organized by garden volunteer Rhonda Refsnider (pictured), who has maximized the space provided into a dream of functionality any gardener will envy. Like the garden itself, the project to install the shed benefitted from the entire crew's efforts.
From this new cheerful home base, our team is inviting new gardeners into the fold as several are reaching their "second retirement" and wanting to pass along their gardening knowledge. And yes, aside from a little help with mowing, the garden team does all the upkeep! We appreciate every flower and tree!
For those interested in volunteering for gardening care, please contact Sue Caroll, Volunteer Coordinator at: Sue.Carroll@sofriendsofhospice.org or 541-500-8911 (ext. 304 - Option 5).
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With gratitude from Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice and Celia’s House, and a huge "thank you" to all our donors, shoppers, and volunteers who bring much needed operating funds to Celia's House hospice residence.
NEWS FLASH: The HUB will be closed on July 4th! Celebrate!
NOTICES AND NEEDS:
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Needed -- Donated Metal Storage Shed or Shipping Container! Additional storage and work space are desperately needed to accept and process donations - beyond the tiny backroom of The HUB. Please contact Julie Raefield 541-380-1154 for more information on how to help with this vital assistance for our resale shop, whose net profits support Celia's House resident care.
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Come on down Marjie Lawrence! You are our lucky shopper who has signed up on our email list. Call The HUB for your surprise gift!
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Mover-Helper needed for donation pick-ups. We continue to seek volunteers who are able to safely pick up, move and deliver furniture. Please contact us: THEHUB@opendoor.com or 541-488-7805. We are grateful for even a few hours per week!
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Need Help or Have Questions?
For General Information - Call Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice Administrative Offices:
541-500-8911
For Admission Information - Call Celia's House Administrator Michele Murray: 541-613-0230
Photo: The Listening Angel in Celia's House Angel Reflection Garden.
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Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice & Celia's House
Mailing Address:
217 S. Modoc Ave., Medford, OR 97504
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