Brownsburg Girl Scouts good deed will help families in need

INDIANAPOLIS – Needy families struggling to provide for their newborns won’t be leaving St. Francis Hospital, empty-handed, thanks to the hard work of Girl Scouts Troop 1731 of Brownsburg.

Trucks and cars pulled up to the entrance of the Women and Children’s Service at the hospital’s Indianapolis campus June 3 and the Scouts, accompanied by Troop Leader Darlene Smith, began unloading several boxes of baby-related items. Their donations were for the St. Francis’ Newborn Pantry, a family-assistance program

SUPER TROOPERS: (l to r) Courtney Sanzone, Sarah Pfettscher, Abby Dragon, Corinne Huls, Darlene Smith (troop leader) and Sydney Fleck.

Each Scout contributed to the project in a special way. Sydney Fleck assembled “goodie bags” for mothers and babies and coordinated publicity for the project; Courtney Sanzone made fleece blankets; Corinne Huls collected toys, assembled toy gift bags and made soft-sided play blocks; Abby Dragon collected clothing, made hats and baby booties; and Sarah Pfettscher collected diapers, wipes and bottles and made hooded towels

Troop 1731 began collecting the items in the Brownsburg earlier this year and made it part of their community service project. They also received a grant to purchase new items.

“This was a tremendous expression of generosity and the efforts of these young ladies will benefit many families who have nowhere else to turn for help,” said Mischelle Frank, a St. Francis manager who helped establish the pantry late last year.

It’s estimated that 40 percent of babies born at St. Francis hospitals are in families who are struggling financially, have limited resources or receiving charity care.

The Newborn Pantry is just one of the many community outreach initiatives at St. Francis. The hospital’s Neighborhood Health Center near Garfield Park also operates the BABE store, providing a wide range of items for infants, children and mothers.

To learn more about St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers community benefits and service, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=421.

Volunteers bring skills, compassion to St. Francis Hospice patients

INDIANAPOLIS – Do you have a special place in your heart for the dying? Perhaps talents or skills you’d like to share with these patients and their families?

St. Francis Hospice is seeking volunteers for a variety of positions and roles, including office assistants, people trained in bereavement to assist with phone calls and support groups and to make visits to patients’ homes and extended-care facilities. Musicians, massage therapists, hair stylists and volunteers with other skills also are needed.

"All St. Francis Hospice volunteers complete an orientation program provided by our staff and have the opportunity to meet other volunteers and to shadow a member of our team to patients’ homes," said volunteer coordinator Glenda Dennison. "Our goal is to create a meaningful experience for volunteers and the patients and families they will work with."

Volunteers must be 18 or older and willing to commit to four hours a week for six months. They must complete a hospital volunteer application process and attend orientation.

To learn more about the hospice volunteer program, contact Glenda Dennison at 317-859-2874, or Glenda.dennison@ssfhs.org.

More information about St. Francis Hospice is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=280.

Hospice program seeks willing servers during National Volunteer Week

INDIANAPOLIS – It has been said the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in serving others – and many are finding themselves by serving the dying and their families through the St. Francis Hospice program.

With National Volunteer Week (April 27-May 3) approaching, the program seeks people for various roles and positions, including office assistants, people trained in bereavement to assist with phone calls and support groups and to make visits to patients’ homes and extended care facilities. Musicians, hair stylists and volunteers with other skills also are needed.

“National Volunteer Week gives people the opportunity to be shining examples,” said Glenda Dennison, volunteer coordinator. “Hospice volunteers encourage those they serve and inspire others to serve.

All St. Francis Hospice volunteers complete an orientation program provided by staff and have the opportunity to meet other volunteers and to shadow a member of our team to patients’ homes.

Volunteers must be 18 or older and willing to commit to four hours a week for six months. They must complete a hospital volunteer application process and attend orientation.

To learn more about the hospice volunteer program, contact Glenda Dennison at 317-859-2874, or Glenda.dennison@ssfhs.org.

More information about St. Francis Hospice is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=280.

Volunteers bring more than just skills to St. Francis Hospice

Media contact:
Joe Stuteville
Media Relations Manager
317-782-7986
317-946-9930 (cell)
317-909-0079 (pager)
Joe.Stuteville@ssfhs.org

INDIANAPOLIS – Do you have a special place in your heart for the dying? Perhaps talents or skills you’d like to share with these patients and their families?

St. Francis Hospice is seeking volunteers for a variety of positions and roles, including office assistants, people trained in bereavement to assist with phone calls and support groups and to make visits to patients’ homes and extended-care facilities. Musicians, hair stylists and volunteers with other skills also are needed.

"All St. Francis Hospice volunteers complete an orientation program provided by our staff and have the opportunity to meet other volunteers and to shadow a member of our team to patients’ homes," said volunteer coordinator Glenda Dennison. "Our goal is to create a meaningful experience for volunteers and the patients and families they will work with."

Volunteers must be 18 or older and willing to commit to four hours a week for six months. They must complete a hospital volunteer application process and attend orientation.

To learn more about the hospice volunteer program, contact Glenda Dennison at 317-859-2874, or Glenda.dennison@ssfhs.org.

More information about St. Francis Hospice is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=280.

St. Francis gift program shares with needy in season of giving

Publication Date: November 30, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact:
Joe Stuteville
Media Relations Manager
317-782-7986
317-946-9930 (cell)
317-909-0079 (pager)
Joe.Stuteville@ssfhs.org

St. Francis gift program shares with needy in season of giving

INDIANAPOLIS – While one song hails the holidays as the “most wonderful time of the year,” for many families it’s a season of struggle.

That’s what continues to drive the Gift-a-Family program, coordinated by the Service Excellence and Volunteer Services at St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers. The annual program serves residents primarily on the city’s south side.

While the referral and selection of families for this year’s program has ended, St. Francis employees and their respective departments recently began “adopting” families and collecting new clothing, small household items and children’s toys and gifts.

“Each year we identify families who have been referred to us, and while they have different backgrounds they all share a common denominator – they’re needy and often in desperate situations,” said Sherri Walker, director of St. Francis’ Service Excellence and Volunteer Services. “And in the spirit of St. Francis, our employees step forward with generosity and compassionate concern to help them.”

St. Francis employees are expected to assist 76 families during the upcoming holidays.

The hospital also provides the families with food baskets, with food items coming from the hospital’s pantry. This year’s food baskets will be blessed Dec. 19 by St. Francis clergy before they are delivered with the gifts.