The beneficiary is Faith Wiles, a fourteen-year old young lady who is currently being treated for recurrent Ewings Sarcoma and undergoing aggressive chemotherapy.  In May, it was determined that the cancer had metastized to the lungs.

Midway Baptist Church is located at 4615 Olive Branch Road, Wingate, NC 28174.  You may check their website, www.midbc.org for further information or directions to the church.  A minimum donation of $6 per plate would be greatly appreciated.

On Saturday, October 18, 2008, Hospice of Union County will offer Camp Whittle, a one day camp for children ages 6 through 16.  The program is offered free of charge and open to any child(ren) who have experienced the death of a family member or friend.  The camp will be from 8:30am until 4:30pm at Central United Methodist Church in Monroe.

The program uses art, music, storytelling, video and play activities in a group setting.  The day is designed to help children express feeling, remember the person they love and provide them with “tools” to continue toward healing. 

Pre-registration is required to attend.  To pre-register, preferably by October 10th, please call 704-292-2100 or go online at houc.org for a pre-registration form or for more information. 

According to Wayne Berg, Resource Development Director for Hospice of Union County, the church contacted Hospice a couple of months ago, “asking if they could do a benefit breakfast to benefit our patients.  We were grateful then and pleased to say, “certainly”, and are even more grateful now that it is done and they raised such a large total.” 

The church is located at 6804 Morgan Mill Road, Monroe, 28110.

All proceeds go towards patient care and will allow Hospice to continue providing care to those patients who are not able to pay for their own end-of-life care.

If you have any questions, please call Hospice at 704-292-2100 or e-mail the Community Relations Coordinator, Pamela Collins at pcollins@houc.org. 

Rob and Jean Kreisher, the tournament’s co-directors were elated over the total and the room was truly abuzz with excitement after Executive Director, Mike Linker, announced the days proceeds.  A long list of thank you’s were given both at the tournament and in follow-up ads and personal notes to the sponsors and donors.

 ”You just never know how successful any given year will be - but this year, we simply knocked it out of the park,” said Rob Kreisher.  “We can only use this year as a benchmark for future years and keep working and believing that people recognize what a great cause this is.”

As with all Hospice of Union County fundraisers, all of the proceeds go towards patient care. 

Thursday, May 15 from 5:30 to 7:00pm, the workshop will be taking place at the Waxhaw Public Library.

Tuesday, June 3 from 5:30 to 7:00pm, the workshop is happening at the Lockhart Taylor Center on the SPCC campus in Wadesboro.

Thursday, June 19 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm, the workshop will be presented at the Matthews Public Library.

The workshop is intended to be an interactive evening of sharing and learning, with participants encouraged to share examples from their own life of both the challenges and options to overcome the life changes that come with grieving the loss of a loved one.

There is also a regularly scheduled Bereavement Support Group which will meet at the main campus in Monroe at 6pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month.  The next meetings will be May 13 and May 27.  Please join us.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Michael Flynn, Bereavement Services Coordinator at 704-292-2102.  

One of the wonderful things about Hospice projects is that they almost always involve family members of patients, both past and present.  As one said, “It’s what I feel passionate about - helping people who are going through the same thing we went through and helping them like you all [Hospice of Union County] helped us.”  In so many ways, that same sentiment was expressed by leaders of the Capital Campaign, including Carol and Carlton Tyson, as well as Larry Helms as they made short statements regarding their involvement with Hospice and with the Capital Campaign, particularly. 

Construction of the House should begin shortly, with an anticipated date of Spring 2009 for being able to receive and care for patients.

Watch as you drive by the main campus at 700 W. Roosevelt Blvd. in Monroe for construction equipment and signs of activity on construction of the Hospice House! 

So we’re putting out the word. 

We have a ministry opportunity available at Hospice of Union County for those who feel called to be the “eyes and ears” of Hospice for their church congregation.  The Watchman  Program offers someone the opportunity to learn more about Hospice and both what Hospice can do for the members of their church family who may need it, as well as how the church can be involved with Hospice.

If you feel called to fill this ministry or know someone in your congregation who might feel this calling, please contact the program director, Pamela Collins at 704-292-2105.