Page 12 • The ENUMCLAW Courier-Herald • Wednesday, December 25, 2013
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Wednesday, December 25 , 2013 • The ENUMCLAW Courier-Herald • Page 13
The Care Van
The Story of ERHF
Our Mission
Supporting a Healthy Community
Our Goals
1. Increase wellness in the communities we serve 2. Build partnerships with organizations with similar missions and visions to accomplish mutual goals 3. Increase awareness and support of the Foundation in the communities we serve 4. Expand and enhance our funding sources 5. Bridge the gaps in local budgets that impact community wellness
What We Do to Help Our Community!
Rainier Foothills Community Health Network Coalition
Access to Healthcare Askflin.com Resource Website
Programs Care Van, Dental Van, Books for Babies, Health Summits Events Garden Tour, Duck Race, Holiday Fantasy, Health & Wellness Expos
LINCCK (Linking Civility, Compassion & Kindess)
FHCC (Foothills Healthy Community Coalition)
National Night Out, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Parenting Classes
Youth Substance Prevention Alcohol, Marijuana, Prescription Drugs
Mental Health Community Awareness, Resource Awareness, Mental Health & First Aid
The first Care Van was purchased by the Enumclaw Regional Healthcare Foundation in 1995. Between the original purchase and the summer of 2010, more than 56,480 trips were made taking patients to destinations like the hospital, medical center, dentist office, optometrist office, physical therapy facility and pharmacy. The Care Van is equipped with a hydraulic lift which allows easy wheelchair access and safe transports. On the average, the hydraulic lift is utilized nearly 15 times a day. The van seats six passengers plus two wheelchairs. The Care Van service is not just for seniors. Anyone who shows a transportation hardship for healthcare related appointments can request a ride. Service areas include: Enumclaw, Black Diamond, Bonney Lake, Buckley, Burnett, Carbonado, Cumberland, South Prairie and Wilkeson.
Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Seniors Hot Meal Delivery Program Children Weekend Backpack Program Sandwiches at Youth Center Families Thursday Night Dinners
Enumclaw Regional Healthcare Foundation (ERHF) is comprised of a volunteer Board from the Foothills communities. Since 1982, this benevolent Foundation has raised more than $4 million to provide services, programs and equipment for area residents, organizations, and St. Elizabeth Hospital. ERHF’s focus has always been on the healthcare needs of its growing population. With a volunteer board of community leaders who work in partnership with caring individuals, community groups, business leaders and generous donors, the Foundation raises funds to support the programs that make the Foothills communities healthy and safe havens to raise families and grow old. ERHF creates opportunities for individuals and organizations to come together, innovate, and collaborate to address issues that impact the health of our community and its people. ERHF provides the venue for the innovation and collaboration and the funds to support it. ERHF’s initiatives serve as a gateway to connect individuals in the community to additional services from organizations it affiliates. ERHF has been able to: increase awareness, resources, and service hours in the communities it serves; expand and enhance its funding sources; build partnerships with organizations with similar missions, vision, goals and objectives; enhance healthcare opportunities in the communities it serves; fill the gaps where budgets and resources are being cut. Through the past three decades, the ERHF has built the foundation of the hospital, donated funds to create sanitary facilities at Plateau Outreach Ministries, supported the White River School District’s health curriculum, returned free van service to take Foothills residents to healthcare appointments and brought dental care to the most needy families. These are just a few of the programs that have been supported by ERHF. Five community Health Summits sponsored by ERHF have provided an avenue for identifying healthcare issues. The assessments have resulted in the formation of the Rainier Foothills Community Health Network Steering Committee with five current task forces working on tangible healthcare initiatives - 1) youth substance abuse, 2) violence prevention, 3) mental health, 4) hunger, and 5) access to healthcare. All the above is part of ERHF’s vision to support a healthy community that is the healthiest region in Washington State. The ERHF is designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c) (3), nonprofit organization, before which offers a tax-free avenue for donors to contribute in many forms such as gifts, bequests and memorials. It is with the critical help of generous supporters that the ERHF can carry out its mission of supporting a healthy community.
Meet our Board of Trustees & Staff Alan Predmore President
Larry Jensen
1st Vice President
Alan Gamblin
2nd Vice President
Ralph Zech, M.D. Secretary
Russ Weeks Treasurer
Nancy Nibarger Care Van Driver
Cam Keith Administrative Assistant
Heather Hogan René Popke Youth Substance Executive Director Abuse Coordinator
Care Van hours of operation: 9 AM to 4 PM Monday / Wednesday / Friday 9 AM to 2 PM Tuesday & Thursday
Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Senior Hot Meal Delivery Program
Hunger and isolation – both of these real life situations affect our aging populations on the Plateau. The hot meal delivery program is designed for anyone not able to drive independently or who has difficulty preparing their own meal. The hot meal delivery program can be temporary or long-term. Volunteer opportunities range from food shopping, helping in the kitchen to delivering meals. The program is dependent on generous volunteers and donations.
To schedule a ride call: 360-284-2444 (this is a local number)
Weekend Backpack Meal Program
2013 Care Van Statistics Month January February March April May June July August September October November Totals
Miles Days Run Trips Lifts 860 21 148 61 1378 19 166 47 1245 21 215 60 1445 22 204 52 1245 22 213 40 1550 20 202 52 1295 21 212 74 1326 22 223 75 1406 20 224 125 1938 23 302 135 1176 19 231 105 11,750.00 188.00 1,807.00 691.00
No child should experience hunger. Reality is many children leave school on Friday with lunch being the last hot meal received until returning to school Monday morning for breakfast at school. In Spring 2013, ERHF partnered with the Enumclaw School District to help fight hunger. A pilot program was put in place at Southwood Elementary School. In just six short weeks, more than 840 meals were provided to participating children. Currently the program is serving 49 children at Southwood Elementary School with Westwood, Sunrise, Kibler and Black Diamond elementary schools preparing to launch in January 2014.
Avg Lifts per day 8.66 5.38 5.86 5.61 4.13 5.15 7.33 7.40 11.16 10.28 15.59
The Enumclaw Regional Healthcare Foundation Timeline ERHF moves from hospital to downtown. ERHF is directed by its donors to expand its focus.
Community and business leaders create Enumclaw Hospital Foundation as a tax-free avenue for donors to support the purchase of equipment and upgrade the rural hospital.
Challenge match from Dwight and Doris Garrett raises $650,000 for emergency room at Community Memorial Hospital.
1982
1992
1989
1995
The Foundation partners with Enumclaw Rotary to raise funds to support the hospital in the first Duck Race down the Green River.
The Foundation purchases the first Care Van for the hospital, serving 844 riders in its first year.
At the first community Health Summit donors and community leaders direct ERHF to focus on... • Access to healthcare • Availability of needed services The Foundation • Mental health services purchases • Alcohol and drug abuse the second • Domestic violence Care Van.
2002 1999 The Foundation hosts its first Holiday Fantasy. • The Foundation partners with the Enumclaw School District and launches Books for Babies.
• 3rd Health Summit takes place. • Foundation donates $600,000 to the Franciscan Foundation for the St. Elizabeth Hospital Construction Campaign. • LINCCK merges with ERHF to get out “Domestic Violence has no place in our community” message. • Human service information database AskFLIN.com goes online.
2007
Michelle Apodaca Kaylee Garrett Jane Houtz, M.D.
Jody Miller
Resa Bolton
Stefanie Erickson Sherri Kolisch
Brenda Sexton
Megan Farr
Scott Gray
Suzanne Lewis
• ERHF receives federal Drug Free Communities Grant worth $1.25 million over 5 years. • Neighbors Feeding Neighbors begins serving hot meals to home-bound seniors and food to underprivleged children on the weekends. • ERHF transports more than 2,300 riders across the Plateau on the Care Van.
2010 2008
2011
Foundation hosts 2nd Health Summit further expanding on services, mental health and alcohol and drug abuse.
Foundation brings Dental Van to community.
• Foundation purchases $496,000 state-of-art digital mammography equipment for hospital.
• ERHF receives Catholic Health Initiatives grant from Franciscan Foundation to prepare for federal drug and alcohol education grant. • 4th Health Summit spurs partnership with Enumclaw School District’s Rachel’s Challenge.
947442
5th Health Summit focuses on Mental Health.
• Mental Health Task Force forms.
2013 2012 Foundation takes over operation of Care Van. • ERHF celebrates 30 years and raising more than $4 million in that time channeled toward finding solutions to our area’s wellness gaps.