Caregivers Chocolate - Caregiver Companion

Spring 2013
Caring for Caregivers
Caregiver Companion services
update
Two major changes affecting the future of Caregiver
Companion have taken place this past year.
The Tipton office was closed, and Sister Veronica
Baumgartner retired as grant writer and consultant.
When the Tipton Center was preparing for closure at the end
of December 2012, the Sisters living there were able to choose
another Center of the Congregation for their new home. Sister
Veronica chose Wheeling, West Virginia and moved there Nov.
9, 2012.
From all accounts, she is very happy there; she loves the
Sisters and all the staff and enjoys the beautiful mountains
and scenic areas. She is also enjoying the abundance of deer
on the property, the peaceful surroundings and the excellent
liturgies available. Although she’s had a few health issues since
November, she is receiving excellent care and is on the road to
better health and mobility. She’s grateful for all who remember
her with prayer, communication and good wishes.
Her current address is: Sister Veronica Baumgartner, CSJ
137 Mount St. Joseph Road
Wheeling, WV 26003
Phone: (304) 232-8160
Email: vbaumgartner@csjoseph.org
The closing of the Tipton office took place Nov. 2. Jamie
Vonderahe, the coordinator, found a full-time job so it was
a great opportunity for her. Jamie struggled with leaving
Caregiver Companion, but a full-time job with benefits could
not be passed up. Before Jamie left, she had each neighbor
matched with someone to help them. Given all circumstances,
the Governing Board and the CSJ Ministries felt it wise to
close the Tipton office. We thank Jamie for her four years of
dedicated service to the Tipton area. We were pleased to be able
to offer the service of Caregiver Companion to the Tipton area
from 2003 to the current closing in 2012. With the dedicated
volunteers from Tipton, those nine years were a blessing to
many elderly in need of a little assistance to make life more
comfortable to live at home. –Helen Klemme
“Caregivers
Chocolate”
On a crisp, clear October day, Caregiver Companion
held our first-ever fundraiser.
Vendors who agreed to participate set up
tables to tempt shoppers at Tippecanoe Mall to
try some chocolate delights. The Outpost, Arni’s
and Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health’s Home Health &
Hospice all brought chocolate delicacies to entice mall
customers.
Caregiver volunteers and staff were on hand to sell tickets that could
be exchanged for the sweet treats. Tickets were $2.50 each and a total of
240 tickets were sold.
Patrons could then exchange a ticket for one serving of Snickers bars,
S’mores bars or chocolate ganache from Arni’s; chocolate amaretto bars
from the Outpost; or a small bag of assorted chocolates from Franciscan
St. Elizabeth Health’s Home Health & Hospice. Hippensteel Funeral
Home was also there as a sponsor and shared their information and
gave out a small piece of chocolate. While they did not have a table at the
event, Lafayette Bank & Trust was also a sponsor.
It was a modest beginning for our first venture but we plan to build
on it while we spread the word about this ministry and help to keep
Caregiver solvent. It was a fun day, and we hope the beginning of a new
tradition for Caregiver Companion and the Lafayette community. After
expenses, our total income for the day was $1,287.
–Marilynn McTague
Fundraising and memorials
The Caregivers
Chocolate fundraiser will be held again this year
on Oct. 19. We can use some help before and during the event with
advertising, soliciting vendors to participate, encouraging shoppers to
purchase some chocolate and ticket sales. If you would like to be a part
of this new tradition, please call Marilynn at (765) 423-1879.
Something to think about
Have you told your family to remember Caregiver Companion when
you’re gone? Such thoughtful gifts support our mission. Please inform
your family when that difficult time comes, to please honor your
memory with a memorial donation to us.
Stranger to Neighbor to Friend
Since February 1995, when Caregiver Companion opened its doors at St. Ann Church
and Shrine, we have met over a thousand neighbors and many volunteers. It brings joy
to all of us (staff, neighbor, volunteer) when a match is made with a volunteer meeting
the needs of a neighbor. Some of these matches have become lifelong friendships.
In fact, there is the story of Mary. Mary was telling us how many friends she had, and
she no longer needed help from Caregiver Companion. In chatting with Mary, she was
naming her friends and what they did for her; we discovered all of her friends were our
volunteers we had matched with her! It often happens that as the friendships form,
the neighbor forgets how they met, or one neighbor decided he didn’t need our help
anymore because he and the volunteer we sent had become good friends. The friend
was still going to help him, but the neighbor didn’t see
any connection to Caregiver Companion.
The service to our neighbors have varied from having
Dora’s name on our list, so she can call when she needs
help, to providing respite to Carol a couple of hours
three days a week while she is at work. The service we
provide depends on the needs of the neighbor and the
availability of volunteers.
Some of the comments from neighbors tell of their
gratitude for the volunteers and the service of Caregiver
Companion.
William would mention how grateful he was when
Betty took his laundry home and returned it with a smile, and she
would even take time to visit with him.
Sally was happily overwhelmed with the support the students
gave her when she needed so much help with her baby as her own
health problems escalated.
After several weeks of being able to meet with her book club
while a volunteer stayed with her husband, Dorothy commented,
“Thank you for your help, it was a God send. I really needed it.”
Kathy broke her back and cannot lift things very easily. She is
grateful for our assistance in getting her groceries. She can keep
things up pretty well, but it is hard to go out, ride those carts and
try to get the items off the shelves. She does appreciate the help.
Susan said, “I think it is very compassionate of people to be volunteering their time to
help other people. I am very grateful – very grateful you exist.”
Hellen and Ray need help with transportation to grocery shop, doctor appointments
and hair appointment. Hellen commented, “Caregiver Companion is the greatest thing
that has happened to us.”
When asked for a comment, Jerry said, “They are amazing. I have been relieved in all
facets of life because of what they have been able to help me with.”
It is not unusual for a volunteer to become our neighbor. More than once, a volunteer
has needed our help as they become unable to drive and manage their home. Nothing
gives us more pleasure than repaying those who have been so generous of their time
to us. This is a great example of the saying, “What goes around comes around” in a
positive way!
Right: Marilynn looks over the neighbor list with Melinda, a student from Beacon
Academy, as Melinda chooses someone to help.
Financial update
In the shoes of a neighbor
Your support is much appreciated again
this year in answering the call for help
through the appeal letter. You donated
$12,653 to help keep Caregiver Companion
alive and active, and we are extremely
grateful! With your financial support and
the volunteers’ gifts of time, we continue
to serve caregivers and the elderly in
Tippecanoe County.
As you may have heard, the foundation
grants were more difficult to receive last
year so we are approaching businesses for
contributions to the operations of Caregiver
Companion to keep it active and a choice
for the people of Tippecanoe County. If
you have any ideas of a business or person
to solicit, please give that name to Helen
or Marilynn. Since our last newsletter
these organizations have contributed the
following:
Oh my – the clock says it’s 5:30 and I’m already awake much before the sun shines
on this cold winter morning. Well, I might as well get up and start my day. My muscles
and bones hurt and are stiff after a night of sleep – I reach for my cane for support. Oh, I
remember when I didn’t need this cane – those were the days!
I put a pot of tea on and turn on the TV for some company and to see what the weather
will bring today. My husband has been gone now for 8 years, and I’m so lonely for some
companionship and conversation. It looks like it will be a cold, wet day, but at least there
won’t be any snow or ice. The last thing I need is to fall and break a bone and end up in the
hospital – I hate hospitals. My worst fear is ending up in a nursing home, and since my kids
have all moved away, I don’t know who would take care of me.
Well, it’s the third day of the month and my Social Security check will be in the bank
today, so I can expect a visit from my friend, Sue from Caregiver Companion, this afternoon.
I had better finish my grocery list and get a check ready. I need to be careful and not put too
much on the list, since the heating bill is so high this month. I wish I could go with Sue to
the store – I miss getting out and shopping for myself. It’s just too hard to get around with
my cane and this darned oxygen tank I have to tote along.
I take a few moments to say my prayers, and then I fix myself some toast so I can get my
morning pills down. After reading the newspaper, I settle into the recliner to work on the
crossword puzzle. A short nap is probably in order.
I wake up to the phone ringing. It’s my doctor’s office reminding me of an appointment
for tomorrow afternoon. I had better call Caregiver Companion quickly to see if they can
find a driver for me – I hope it’s not too late. I get up from the recliner and go to make
myself some lunch. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich and cottage cheese with the last glass
of milk. It’s a good thing it’s shopping day because my shelves are getting bare.
Sue comes to my door at 1:10, as expected. I give her my list and a check made out to the
grocery. She’s been shopping for me now for a couple of years and knows which things I like
and which I don’t like. We used to go to the store together, but now it’s just too hard for me.
I miss our outings. Sometimes we would stop on our way home for a Coke or an ice cream
cone. I loved those days out.
Sue is back in a little over an hour, and we put the groceries away. When she asks if
there’s anything else I need – I ask for some help changing my sheets. That is probably one
of the hardest tasks for me to do alone, and she makes it look so easy. After that chore is
done, we sit and visit for a while. It’s so nice to visit with someone in person. Sue goes out to
the mailbox and gets my mail, and after she leaves, I settle down for some TV before I fix my
dinner. I used to love to cook when the house was full of family and life but now food just
doesn’t taste good, and I can’t stand very long so usually I eat frozen dinners.
Another day is winding down. I miss my kids and my husband. I remember when I used
to long for a quiet moment to think – now what I would give for some of the noise and
mischief that comes with a full house. Those days went by so quickly and now time passes
too slowly. Except for Sue’s visit, it seemed like another ho-hum day, but I am grateful to the
Lord that I had no bad incidents today where it could have been so much worse. Thank you,
God.
–Marilynn McTague
CSJ Ministries
St. Mary’s Cathedral
H&R Block
Kiwanis Foundation
Monsanto Fund
$35,000
$575
$375
$800
$2,500
We have been gifted with $20,000 for the
ministry and are very grateful, as we are for
all who love our ministry and give in each
of your own special ways in sharing your
time and talent.
Volunteer
Appreciation Dinner
We had a delightful Volunteer
Appreciation Dinner at St. Mary’s in
November. Those who attended enjoyed
pizza from Puccini’s, salad and breadsticks
from Olive Garden and custard dishes from
Igloo. When you are trying to decide where
to eat we encourage you to select one of
the above; we appreciate their donation to
make our dinner enjoyable and delicious.
The design and printing of this newsletter was
provided by Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health.
Non-Profit Org
US Postage
PAID
Lafayette, IN
Permit No. 488
612 Wabash Ave.
Lafayette, IN 47905
(765) 423-1879
caregiver95@gmail.com
www.caregivercompanion.org
A Tribute to Thom Reed
Oct. 14, 1947 – July 7, 2012
We have a deep appreciation for Thom Reed who helped with the very beginning of Caregiver Companion in 1995. When
Sister Veronica began Caregiver Companion, Thom, his wife Candy, and their son Nick were ready to help her in any way
they could. Thom prepared the books for the accountant for 17 years, served on the Advisory and Governing Board for
the last eight years and was a constant supporter. We miss Thom’s friendly smile and gentle manner.
Caregiver Companion needs your support!
To continue providing quality and compassionate care to those in need of assistance, Caregiver Companion is continually looking for
volunteers and donations. Our volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, from young students to retired individuals.
For more information on volunteering and volunteer opportunities, please call (765) 423-1879.
If you know of someone who needs our help, please share the appropriate phone number with them. To donate to Caregiver Companion,
please send donations to the Lafayette office.
Lafayette office
612 Wabash Ave. • Lafayette, IN 47905
Phone: (765) 423-1879 • Fax: (765) 742-2994
E-mail: caregiver95@gmail.com