Celebrate the Season of Giving with MountainCare |
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If you prefer to write a check made to MountainCare, please mail to:
MountainCare, Inc., PO Box 5956, Asheville NC 28813
Please note that in-kind donations for all of MountainCare's programs can be shipped to:
Rathbun House, 121 Sherwood Road, Asheville NC 28803
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Holidays at the "House with a Heart" |
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Some of the most special times at Rathbun House are simply "being there" for our guests over the holidays. Not only are guests supporting a loved one in the hospital, but they are also away from their family during special days like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers and supporters, we can provide a little comfort by serving traditional meals and lots of smiles.
On Thanksgiving, we provided a full turkey dinner with all the extras, while making sure we complied with all our COVID-19 precautions. Everyone stuffed themselves full thanks to volunteers Roger, Katie, Tom, Gayle, Martha, and Tony with "Living with Victory"! The house is fully decorated for the winter holidays, and we are looking forward to serving yet another delicious meal on Christmas.
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We are currently collecting gifts for our NICU families for their little one's first Christmas. If you are interested in donating, please contact Bob Jackson, Rathbun House Manager, at [email protected] or 828-251-0595. |
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Seating Clinic Success Story |
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"My daughter Lydia has now been blessed by several seating appointments with Barbara Crume. The value of her support and expertise is immeasurable.
We came from Mexico with a rickety old wheelchair and were amazed by the possibility of Lydia using a power wheelchair. However, there were significant issues with the new power chair that needed to be treated in order to ensure that her back and hips, shoulders and neck, were well-supported. As a mother I had no idea that she was not in good posture and that this could even potentially harm her from long-term use. After the first seating appointment with Barbara, my daughter's posture was beautiful, and she looked so much more comfortable.
. . .We are so grateful for Barbara and MountainCare for their great service to our family and many other families in Western North Carolina!" - Emily Edmonds
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Evaluations for wheelchairs are offered free of charge through your generous donations. For more information about the Seating & Wheeled Mobility Clinic, please call (828) 820-2828. |
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Giving Back to Our Veterans |
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When COVID-19 actualized last spring, our team wanted to find ways to provide services remotely. One third of our total enrolled Adult Day participants are Veterans, and many live without a primary caregiver, or in a medical foster home. We began delivering meals and enrichment activities such as puzzles, art projects, or crossword puzzles that our vets can enjoy safely at home. Since May, Adult Day has prepared and delivered over 800 meals to Veterans! Volunteers help us by delivering care packages weekly. To volunteer, please contact us at [email protected].
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Coping with Grief During the Holidays |
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Coping with the challenges of the pandemic is fatiguing, to say the least, and for those that are grieving, you may be feeling a compounded sense of isolation and loneliness around these holiday times. Our Grief Support team offers a few suggestions to help you handle the holidays this year:
Consider your choices: You have a choice about what to do. Know that it is okay to skip the holidays or celebrate in a different way this year. Some will want to do the holidays as they always have, and understand that it might feel different in the absence of your loved one. Maybe it is a good time to start a new tradition. Recognize when you are feeling influenced by other’s expectations, and try to tune into what you want and need.
Recognize your needs and desires, and make a plan: Sometimes it is difficult to know exactly what it is that you want and need, especially in the fog of grief, so allow yourself as much flexibility and time as you can in making a plan. Some find it helpful to make a plan with others in their family to navigate the holidays together (whether it be in person or via computer/phone this year). Families can feel the impacts of the holidays on their grief in many ways, particularly with specific traditions or if the person who coordinated the holidays is the person who died. No one grieves in the same manner, so being able to express one’s perspective, while it may be different, can help others know where you are coming from.
Acknowledge your feelings: Give yourself time and space to feel your feelings. Perhaps you carve out time during the day to be in your grief; perhaps you step away for a few private moments; perhaps you choose to share with trusted friends or family about how you are feeling. Acknowledge that on a “normal day” grief takes up a lot of our energy, and during the holidays, you may need to accept your limitations or check your expectations of yourself. It is okay to take a break, even from grieving. You may include the deceased person in the holiday celebration by talking about them, by making their favorite dish, or by including their photo with a seat at the table.
Seek additional support if needed: If you’re grieving a loved one’s death and having a difficult time with the holidays, we encourage you to seek counseling. MountainCare offers grief counseling services. Anyone can call to set up an individual meeting with the counselor: 828-820-2080.
We are with you in spirit this holiday season and send you good wishes of comfort, health and hope.
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Learn more about our services: |
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Your generosity can make a difference. |
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MountainCare, Inc.
P.O. Box 5956
Asheville, NC, 28813
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