Soundings (4/24/07)

Bucks in the Bay:

• Tim McEvoy: Atlanta Bball
• Terry Beardsley: Tropics in Mexico
• Lynn Templeton-passing of friend Kurt Mayberry
• Patty Imhof-check for $80 to Foundation to celebrate Stan's Birthday
• Tonya Meyers-special thank you to Patty for GRADS efforts
• Stephanie Sadler-two weeks in Hawaii
• Bill Geyer-400K Grant approved by Governor
• Art Runestrand-Kelly signed with swimming team at University of New Mexico
• Larry Andresen-several business trips-too many to mention-especially nice 2 weeks with wife in Maui.

Sargent at Arms: Pete Rittmueller

• Brent Walker: forgot to turn off phone;
• Boy's and Girls Club Employees: Article in the paper, all forgot to mention;
• Tim McEvoy-Attorney General inquisition about high gas prices;
• Judge Nichols-too dangerous being a Judge, potential for death threats;
• Patty Imhof-fined for fining Pete for wearing shorts and can't seem to make it past the 1st commitment of the 4-way test;
• Chuck Walters-13 times to go to the Masters';
• Those fined for commuting to work more than 30 minutes;
• Those fined for not purchasing tickets for Pure Water Raffle.

Interfaith Coalition Presentation, by Lori Polevoi (Program Coordinator) and Dave Franklin

Notes from Lori Polevoi:  In many ways I feel like I'm preaching to the choir today. So many of you are friends of Interfaith Coalition. Your president-elect, Orphalee Smith, is our board treasurer. Bob Becker also is a member of our board and has been for many years. Additionally, he serves on the board of the Interfaith Community Health Center and is their immediate past president. Others of you support Interfaith personally or through your businesses. Thanks to all of you. For those who are not familiar with our organization, Interfaith Coalition is a partnership of 46 congregations in Whatcom County, plus St. Joseph Hospital, that works to provide basic necessities to local people in need.

I'm here today on the heels of our biggest fundraising event of the year. Our auction was Saturday night. Your own Pete Ritmueller is part of a group that donated a tapas and paella dinner, which earned $850 in our live auction. Should he be fined happy dollars for that? Or how about Bob Becker, whose sunset cruise for 10 brought in $1,700?

The money raised by these donations and others, along with underwriting support from businesses like BP Cherry Point Refinery and IMCO General Construction, supports programs that assist local people in need.

For example, the Interfaith Community Health Center provides medical, dental and behavioral-health care to people, regardless of their ability to pay. Last year the health center provided care through more than 38,000 patient visits. Additionally, the health center makes referrals to specialists in the community who provide care on a sliding-scale-fee-basis. By offering primary care on site and making referrals as necessary, the health center makes comprehensive health care available to those who would not have access otherwise. A mobile dental van brings dental screenings to children at their day care and school sites throughout the county. Transportation is an issue for many families, so the mobile dental services provide access to early intervention and oral health education. Curt Smith could talk to you more about this service, as well as the dental clinics offered once a month to adults in need. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse can negatively impact a person's ability to perform on the job and stresses personal relationships. The services offered at the health center and in the community through Interfaith Coalition's mental health partnership help individuals overcome these and other issues and return to productivity and healthier personal relationships.

Sadly, health center staff treats a number of individuals who leave the facility with no place to go home to. Chronic and even acute illnesses are difficult to recover from when you're living on the streets, in your car, in a shelter, or even temporarily in a friend's or relative's house.

Interfaith Family Housing provides short- and long-term shelter to homeless families in our community. Case-management services are an integral element of our housing program. Case managers work with families to establish goals that will lead to self-reliance and to link them with necessary resources in the community. Not surprisingly, often the first resources most families are link with are health care providers - dentists, physicians and therapists. Until their health issues are managed, it's difficult for many families to seek employment or permanent housing. We have nine units in our housing network: (1) Four long-term apartment units, where families may live for up to two years, paying 30 percent of their income for rent, and working with case-managers to stabilize their lives and gain employment and budgeting skills and a positive rental history; and (2) five short-term units where families may live for up to 60 days while working with case managers to find permanent housing. Last year, 29 homeless families received shelter and case-management support through our program. The outcomes in most of these cases are positive - most families do move into permanent housing. While we're pleased, its statistics like the one in Bellingham School District's latest issue of their Inside newsletter which sites 295 homeless district families, that keep us focused on the huge amount of work there is yet to be done in our community to ensure that children and their parents have shelter and stability in their lives.

Without a home that provides safety, comfort, and stability, parents and children are at risk for depression, which, as mentioned earlier, stresses relationships, ability to work, and, for children, ability to learn. Depression and low self-esteem caused by different reasons often affects older members of our community who may have little social connection with family, friends or others who care about them. Studies show that loneliness and isolation can have serious health consequences in addition to affecting mental health. Heart disease, obesity, and the tendency to smoke or consume too much alcohol are other health consequences of loneliness. Consequently, Interfaith Coalition with other organizations in our community developed a Friendly Visitors program that matches trained volunteers with isolated seniors. Our program is 2 ½ years old, and Dave Franklin, one of our earliest volunteers, is here to talk about that program.

Notes from Dave Franklin:

Dave Franklin introduced a program called "Friendly Visitors." This program is an outreach program dedicated to seniors who's health and well-being may improve with meaningful and caring, personal interaction. Dave provided a personal example of picking up a senior friend each Sunday and taking him to his favorite restaurant, Denny's. Numerous challenges are present within the senior population, several which include: "others" must reach out to the program as seniors may not want to admit they are lonely or need help, pride, fear, depression and / or low self-esteem can be factors.

Respectfully submitted,
Matt Groenig