Summer 2017 Hospice Friends 302 S. Main St. Ellensburg, WA 98926

www.hospice-friends.org 509-968-5117

Providing peace, comfort and care in Kittitas County since 1983.

Volunteers Make a Difference

“I just love hospice. There’s so many good people,” said Bill Breeden recently when asked about the Hospice Friends volunteer services. Betty Meilander, Hospice Friends volunteer, has been going to Bill’s house for several months.

“That’s my little break,” said his wife, Judy, who can run errands and visit with family or friends while Betty visits with Bill. Most importantly, this fall when Judy’s bowling league starts again, she will be able to continue bowling with her team because the Hospice Friends volunteer will be with Bill.

Volunteering was a part of Betty’s plans for retirement and it was a great match when Hospice Friends connected Betty with Bill and Judy for volunteer services. Betty wanted her retirement to be meaningful and a friend had suggested making a retirement plan for what she wanted to do and accomplish when retired.

“I’m doing every single thing in my plan,” Betty said. “I feel like I have more of a purpose now than when I was working.”

Volunteer respite care is one of the most important and vital services Hospice Friends offers, enabling many folks to be at home. Bill was in the hospital a few months ago, and the staff there wanted him to go into a nursing home.

(continued on page 2)

(Bill and Betty both agreed to allow us to use their stories with their names for this article. We thank them.)

Please see page 7 for a list of the volunteers who have donated time to Hospice Friends in 2017.

Hospice Friends is a proud Partner Agency

of the United Way of Central Washington

Hospice Friends Opens Upper County Office

Hospice Friends has received a grant to open an office in Upper County. The Suncadia Fund for Community Enhancement grant will enable Hospice Friends to have the office open one day a week.

We extend great appreciation the Suncadia folks and to Steve and Peggy Locati of Kittitas Title and Escrow who donated space for the office.

It is at 513 E. 1st Ave. in Cle Elum and will open on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting September 6.

It is staffed by Nancy Loder, our Upper County Services Coordinator.

Nancy will also make limited deliveries for our Upper County clients.

Please access our office from the rear of the building, which is accessible from the alley way.

Volunteering Benefits Everyone (continued from page 1)

“The time at the hospital was bad, bad, bad,” he said. “I’m going home,” he told the doctors and nurses. And with the help of the Kittitas Valley Home, Health & Hospice and Hospice Friends, Bill is at home now. Hospice nurses and aides, the Hospice Friends chaplain and volunteer make regular visits, checking on Bill’s health and giving Judy a break.

Betty came to Hospice Friends as a volunteer because, “I’d always liked being around older people.” While working at Central Washington University years ago, there came a day when Betty realized she wanted to study gerontology and work with older people. She did just that, spending time as an intern at an Aging & Long-Term Care office, then accepting a job there.

In 2015, Betty became a Hospice Friends volunteer when she was elected to the Board of Directors. She also spent time in the Hospice Friends office helping with administrative tasks before volunteering with hospice patients.

This happened around the same time Bill decided he wanted to go home, not to a nursing home. Bill told us he had known about the hospice organization and was thrilled when he was able to go home because of the care he would get from KVHHH and Hospice Friends. “Everything has been so great since I got on hospice,” he said.

“It’s so good of an organization for people like me and the whole community. It’s an effort to keep us going; to take care of us,” he said.

Betty noted, “I think I get more from them than they get from me.” She shared that her experience volunteering with organizations was good and made a difference. “With Hospice Friends, it’s different because it’s with people and you see

instant benefits.” This Hospice Friends volunteer match has been perfect. Bill and Betty speak

very fondly of one another—they discuss books as they are both avid readers, they chat about gardening and life in the Kittitas Valley and, sometimes, they sit quietly and nap a bit.

The impact of volunteering is huge—for the Hospice Friends volunteer and for the Hospice Friends client and family members. There are 70 people currently volunteering for Hospice Friends in a variety of ways—10 of those volunteers are spending time with hospice patient clients and the others help with office tasks, fundraising events, serve on the board or committees, provide transportation for clients or deliver supplies.

Hospice Friends is making a difference for many people in Kittitas County because of the dedicated volunteers, like Betty. If you’re interested in volunteering, we welcome you! Please contact us at 509-968-5117, programs@hospice-friends.org.

“It’s so good of an organization for people like me and the whole community. It’s an effort to keep us going; to take care of us.”

Thank you!

On behalf of Hospice Friends clients, board and staff, thanks to everyone who made the

18th Annual Cruisin’ for Hospice a huge success!

By the numbers....

1 City of Ellensburg who approved the Pine Street closure;

1 Fun Run winner who donated the prize pool back to Hospice Friends;

8 committee members who volunteered their time to plan the event;

10 board members who solicited sponsors and raffle prizes and worked the event;

12 Pine Street businesses who agreed to closing the street;

15 sponsors who contributed $2,225;

30 volunteers who worked the show;

38 businesses or individuals who contributed items for raffle prizes; and

121 fabulous cars and the people who brought them to the show!

Together, we raised $6,600!

Mark your calendars now! 19th Annual Cruisin’ for Hospice

June 1-2, 2018

The Cars!

Contributions to Hospice Friends

Hospice Friends provides peace, comfort, and care to those facing life-threatening illnesses, the elderly and others with short-term medical needs in Kittitas County without affiliation to any specific religious orientation or political view. All services are free of charge. This is due to the generosity of individuals and businesses who contribute to Hospice Friends, grants, contracts and fundraising events. Hospice Friends is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and, as such, gifts to Hospice Friends may be tax-deductible. Memorial and Tribute Gifts Made in Honor of the Following

Dorothy Anderson Joseph E. Barich Randy Brunson Franklin Caruso Lovelia Case Frank & Mary Cernick Daniel Chouinard Maurice Dufault Andy Dyk Minnie Egger

Esther Everett Dorothy Howard Gene Jump Dale W. Lee Marcia Jayne Panattoni Lindstrond Esther Lovell Joe Mackner Roy Mattock Opal Mitchell

Bertha Morrison Ray Poulsen Lorraine “Chic” Powers Joyce Robinson Rick Rosenberg Jackie Rossow Grace Tietje Barbara Vancil Arthur Whitham Helen Wise

Cruisin for Hospice Sponsors

Overdrive Sponsor Bell Electric Trophy Sponsors Kelleher Motor Company Best of Show Trophy Kittitas Valley Cruisers Best Rat Rod Trophy Central Valley Rodders Hospice Friends Choice Hospice Friends

Second Gear Sponsors Aster Inn & Antiques The Kummert Family Windy City Chevrolet First Gear Sponsors Brad & Burke Heating Cashmere Valley Bank Catlin Electric D&M Motors Dave & Joan Selvig Eastside Automotive Red Horse Diner Roslyn Café Ward Rugh

Grants/Contracts

Kittitas Valley Healthcare Home, Health & Hospice Legends Casino & Resort Suncadia Fund for Community Enhancement United Way of Central Washington Yakima Valley Community Foundation

Donors

Rob & Louise Acheson Barb Allen Bill & Dena Allison Gerald Anderson Colleen Andreotti John & Jaana Asriel Don & Gabriella Bacon Marie-Claude Bartow Teresa Beckett Jane & Richard Bennett Jerry Bennett Rollie & Marla Bernth Barbara Bicchieri Betty Blazevich Lawrence “Barney” & Janet Bonjorni Pat Boucher Courtney Bourland Mary & William Bowden Marilyn Brown Jack & Teresa Dunning Buchanan JoAnne Bucklin Dennis & Diane Burchak George Burchak Julie & Mark Carmen Eva Maria Carne Marilyn Charlton Iris Chase Gail Chouinard Karen Christopherson Circle Lazy H Sallyann Clark Jack & Jan Clerf Robin Cole Kathy & Steve Cordero George Craig CV Autoworks Daughters of Isabella, Circle 254 Bob Diefenbach Linda Dimit Jeri & Milt Downs Stanley Dudley Sharry & Roland Dusenberry Carolyn Earwood Annettte & Fred Eberlein Mary Eggen Vicki Elkins Ellensburg Water Company Keith & Karen Eslinger Ellie Finnegan Francis Fischer

June Fischer Norma & Ray Foisy Kay Forsythe Henry Fraser Robert & Virginia Fraser Cathy Nowak & Cindy Frick Ron Frye Enid Gage Avadene Gardinier Sam Garrett Kelly Gerrits Vickie Gillard Marylou Gilmour Jim & Jo Green Maxine Grieser Beth & Helmi Habib Mary & Bob Hagemeier Jeanie Precious & Linda Lee Hall Steven & Brenda Hart Erva & Steve Hatfield Carolyn Hayes James Henderson Tom & Tracy Henderson Patricia Hert Earl & Laureen Higginbotham Brenda Ironmonger Gray & Osborne, Inc. Barbara & Robert Isley Kathy Jeppsen Ginger Jensen Joan Jeske Estelle Johnson Jimmy Johnson Will & Cindy Johnson Sue Kendall Jenny Kern Don King Bob & Heidi Klindworth Dick & Michelle Kloss Barbara Knudsen Minerva Kukes Caroline Kurtz Karen Laband Thyril & Beverly Ladd Linda Lapen Richard Layman Martha Legier Bobbie Leonhard Beverly Limon Nicolie Loustau Larry Lowther James & Lois Luckey Laurae & David Lygre

Andrew & Jen Lyons Edna Madsen Colleen & Donald Major Karolyn Marchel Bernie & Marlene Martin Hal Mason Jim McAllaster Christine McCune Jill McDowell Karen McLean Duane Mehal Betty Meilander Rosemary Meyer Janet Mitchell Steve & Sydney Moe Nancy & Russ Nance Bill & Sally Nelson Andy Norseth Kristy Onersky Jeanette Orso Lois Page Joyce Palelek Sally Panattoni Marilyn Pannatoni Charles & Rose Pasquan Pautzke Bait Company Cindy Peach Sandra & Bill Peterson Zora Peterson Judy & Ronald Poplawski Glen Powers Danielle Pulliam Jean Putnam Harland & Jody Radomske Bruce & Mary Ann Reason Wyman Renfrow Kent Richards Nancy Richards Joe & Janet Riggs Thomas Ringer Don & Gloria Robertson Dick & Wanda Robinson Christine Rosbach Dan Rossow David Rossow Shirley Rossow Marla & Shan Rowbotham M.J. Rucker Norma Ruiz Gilbert Rushton Diane Rust St. Andrew's October Festival Vicki Sannuto (continued on page 7)

(continued from page 6) Jody Scheffelmaier Melva Schmidt Randy & Shirley Schroers Bill & Mary Seubert Donna Shore Dianne & Leon Sigler Bill Sluman Helen & Richard Smith Jack & Karen Soliday Patricia Sorenson Neal & Norman Spurgeon Coleen Sonstegaard Mert & Phyllis Stampfly Emery & Charlene Stone

Anna Sullivan Super One Foods (Rosauers) Gordon Swan Carol Swedberg Kathleen Swedberg Kenneth Swedberg William Swedberg Howard Teasley Minda Terry Rheta Thielen Gail & Thomas Trevathan Eva Tyler United Methodist Women Janet Van Leuven Kern

Ralla Vickers Donna Waldron Elizabeth Wallace Sandy Walker Jack Wallace Linda Waters Geordy Watson Jessica & Matt Webb Richard Wedin Adolph Weinke Lois Wells Carl Vrtnar Yakima Federal Savings

Hospice Friends Volunteers

Our volunteers are the heartbeat of Hospice Friends, and we salute them! They have contributed 793 hours of service this year! We would not be what we are without them. Thank you.

Erica Batchelder Hayden Buechler Kailyn Campbell Devon Chavis Connor Cluphf Dana Cole Rachel Conger Nicki Cook JoAnne Daniels Kenzie Day Jerry Decker Kristie Eads Savannah Egbert Taylor Ferieman Diane Fishel-Hall Sam Garrett Nan Gillis Rob Goff

Julie Gordon Grady Graff Ken Grannan Bob Greenman Peggy Haynie Joe Hill Rhonda Holden Linda Jacobs Jerry Johnson Sheila Johnson Rachael Johnson Joel Klucking Sherri Kuehl Karen Landers Nancy Loder Andrew Lyons Darlene Machin Linda (AJ) Mason

Anna Matz Sarah McGee Betty Meilander Esther Montgomery Sandy Morris Matthew Muller Maxwell Muller Molly Nutt Elizabeth Panattoni Mike Probasco Kayla Smith Mandy Steward Darrell Swaffield Gavin Todd Jenny Tozer Isabella Weidert Jessie Wells

Board of Directors & Staff Board of Directors Ken Grannan, Board President Brookside Funeral Home Sherri Kuehl, Board Vice President Meadows Place Senior Living Betty Meilander, Board Secretary Dana Cole Rhonda Holden, KVH Joel Klucking, CWU

Darlene Machin Aging & Long Term Care Linda (AJ) Mason Staff Ginny Ann Blackson, Executive Director Ken Alford, Chaplain Nancy Loder, Upper County Services Coordinator

302 South Main Street Ellensburg WA 98926

If you would like to be removed from the Hospice News mailing list or if you would like to receive the newsletter in electronic format (saving Hospice Friends postage and printing costs), please let us know by emailing director@hospice-friends.org.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

TREE OF LOVE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017, 6 P.M.,

HAL HOLMES COMMUNITY CENTER, ELLENSBURG TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2017, 6 P.M.

CENTENNIAL SENIOR CENTER, CLE ELUM

HOOPS FOR HOSPICE, MARCH 10, 2018, CWU REC CENTER

CRUISIN’ FOR HOSPICE, JUNE 1-2, 2018, ELLENSBURG