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This chapter helps to support camp
hope, a camp for grieving children who have lost loved ones, most of
them to cancer. Each year members of the Brevard chapter visit the
camp which is held in a secluded area of Merritt island. It is a
restful, protected and therapeutic retreat for those children who come
as survivors. At camp hope, there are counselors and volunteers to
assist each and every child, to listen to their deepest thoughts and to
deal with their frustrations.
Thank you for telling your friends
about UOTS, inc. Cancer service. It is by word of mouth that new
volunteers will join our ranks and help to keep UOTS #66 active.
We are now in the process of assembling special Gift Valet Bags for
patients entering Hospice facilities in Brevard County. The tote bags
are handmade, along with lap robes and booties (slippers) which are
matched and included in each bag. Then personal items such as shaving
cream, razors (for men), soaps, lotions, shampoos, paper, pens, lip
balms, magazines, etc., are added. Nearly 100 bags will be given this
year.
When they are assembled, we will deliver the bags to each of three
Hospice Centers where their staffs distribute them to patients. Each bag
includes a gift card showing that "This is a gift from UOTS, Inc.,
Brevard County #66."
We in Brevard County #66 plan to be ready to help them. For Cancer
Service information call Sylvia Shapiro (321) 773-0591.
With
the support of knowledgeable and caring Board members as well as
many other members, we will continue to help cancer patients, the
children's camp, hospice, as well as any other related cause that
needs us.
We cannot be successful without YOUR help. We have openings.
Please VOLUNTEER. We will give you a hand... show that you care as
we do.
If any of you have ideas that you believe will help the chapter in
any way, please speak up or call me. We want to grow and appreciate
your suggestions.
Craft sales are our big fund raiser. They started in December in
three locations: Publix Markets in Cocoa Beach, Satellite B each
and Indian Harbor Beach. The third store is their newest and most
beautiful (on Eau Gallie Blvd). We are always in need of workers
for various times of the day: to open, to help sell, mornings,
afternoons and to help close. Get Donor Credit for these sales.
See the event calendar below for times and locations.
We plan interesting programs for our meetings and fun luncheons.
Your attendance at UOTS meetings will make them complete. When your
telephone caller reminds you of the date, say, "Yes, I'll do my best
to be there."
Won't you contact us to join or visit us at our meetings? Our work
is so important!
Message from our new
Chapter President:
Good News! We have received grants from Winn-Dixie for $3,500,
applied for last year, as well as $1,000 from United Way for our
Cancer Service Programs, an excellent show of community support.
As your new president,
I want to thank you for your generosity and “ attendance” at our
recent Tea Party. We have raised nearly $800 so far which will pay
for many mammograms for uninsured or underinsured women. Credit
must be given to LOUISE OHLMAN who was determined to use her box of
Lipton tea bags for the project! Thanks Louise for being
persistent, REBA ZWEIBAUM for tallying the mail and LAURA ZWEIG for
her ability on the computer.
We have had a few changes on
the Board: PNP Sylvia Shapiro will be president (for the 9th
time) and BESS COHEN is our new Vice President. ELAYNE SAKSON (our
past president) will be our Trustee; PP BEA LOVAGLIO retains her
position as Recording Secretary as do THELMA GOLDMAN as
Corresponding Secretary and REBA ZWEIGBAUM, treasurer.
The current chair people
remaining in their positions and who have done great jobs are: NORMA
THOMPSEN who handles Miles of Pennies for grieving children’ HARRIET
ROSENBLUM who sends sunshine and sickness notes to our members;
ESTELLE PINK and LOUISE OHLMAN, hospitality who prepares our treats
of coffee, tea and goodies at each meeting; TERRY GREENE who fills
our scrapbooks with clippings and photos of our activities.
Unfortunately, ADELE PORTER, telephone chair is unable to continue
due to health issues. Thank you ADELE for filling in when you were
able.
My greatest fear is that all
that we have accomplished will not endure past our lifetimes. Think
about that. UOTS has been in existence since 1846. We have a
splendid inheritance to live up to. Among the unfilled chairs are
Donor, Membership, Programming and Publicity. As for me, I seem to
be wearing many hats these days: Bulletin, reminder cards for
meetings, grants, Cancer Service, National Advisor, Crafts and, oh
yes, President. I also knot and sew (but I don’t do windows).
Please don’t feel left out. We truly need new faces and ideas on
the Board.
And why do we do this Perhaps
the reason is this: we now have the mammography services of all of
the Health First hospitals and radiology labs which have switched
completely to digital testing at no increase in cost to us! That
includes Palm Bay hospital, Holmes and Cape Canaveral (the Women’s
Center Add to that list Wuesthoff of Rockledge (qho originally got
the program started in 1990) and Parrish in Titusville. It is an
amazing accomplishment for an independent non-profit organization of
volunteers such as Brevard County #66! As a proud member, don‘t be
shy. Call me. With your help this will be another successful
year for our chapter!
With love and
friendship,
Sylvia Shapiro
CANCER SERVICE BY SYLVIA
SHAPIRO
This past fiscal year ended May 31st.We
were able to assist 183 women receive free mammograms during this
period. That is an increase of over 33% from our last report in
February! I expect an even higher number each report since our
facilities have increased to include testing at Palm Bay Hospital
and ALL other Health First sites! (You can read this in my message
above)
In all, we served 375 residents of Brevard
including Camp Hope children, PSA testing for men, lab costs for
indigent patients through our oncologists, medications, and patient
supplies.
Some of the letters from those we have helped.
United Order of True Sisters, Thank you so
much for taking care of my mammogram. Without your help I do not
know what I would have done. God Bless.
Karen
Dear Sylvia, Thank you! May God Bless You
and the Sisters!
WHAT DONOR CREDIT MEANS AND HOW TO EARN IT....
Every March our chapter holds a Donor Luncheon at a restaurant or
hotel to show its appreciation to members who have raised money for
our Cancer projects. They have earned at least $36 donor credit in
the following ways:
Bringing in a new member, $1 credit;
Sending our UOTS Tribute Cards to commemorate happy or sad occasions
by calling Lois Phillips, 321/724-9592, Chairman. Anything over
$2.50 is credited to Donor;
Working at our craft shows, $1 per hour;
Contributing handmade crafts made by you or a friend; when sold, you
receive full credit with your materials or half credit if we ours is
used;
Sewing Valet bags for patients entering hospice. Call Sylvia
Shapiro, 321/773-0591, earn $1;
Knitting, crocheting, sewing lap robes for hospice patients, making
bootees $1, blankets, $5;
Placing our Miles of Pennies canisters into your doctor's offices,
restaurants you frequent, etc., along with our flyers to explain our
services and rolling the coins, turning the receipts over to
Treasurer Rose Feldman at meetings, for FULL credit; This is
probably the easiest way to make donor if you are unable to knit,
sew or crochet.
Hosting a card party or "movie and chips" evening for a minimal
contribution for your friends/neighbors which you can donate for
FULL credit. (also a great way to get them interested in UOTS and
perhaps join);
And, finally, the most obvious, making a donation each month toward
Donor at our meetings.
If you can think of any other way, please share your ideas with us.
We all work for Cancer Service so the more funds we raise, the more
patients we can help!
Comment: Sometimes we forget the suffering others have encountered
and how the good we do can alter their lives. So I say to you all,
"Count your blessings (and your UOTS friends among them)." These
letters reflect the comments I hear almost daily so I wanted to pass
them on to you. Sylvia Shapiro.
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