Entering 2022 with Gratitude
From the Executive Director
Dwight Wilson

It is a pleasure to write my first article of the year as there is good news to share!

As many of you are aware, medical services in our community were greatly impacted by the pandemic. Celia’s House was no exception, experiencing at times staffing shortages as well as implementing OHA safety regulations. I am happy to report that our staffing has become more stable, and we are able to again operate at full capacity, and have hired our second RN.

  • We held a volunteer orientation class this month, which brought in a new wave of volunteers to Celia’s House. We count on our volunteers to serve meals, greet visitors, sit at the bedside of our residents, serve on committees, as well as work at our retail store, The HUB, in Ashland.

  • We have streamlined our admission process to insure we respond to referrals and inquiries the day they are received. 

  • Our resale store, The HUB, has had a spectacular year bringing in the most sales ever. Finally, we were blessed with over a million dollars in donations and grants in 2021.

  • With the support of the Culture Committee, we will be offering a series of small group sessions to discuss and share “Culture, How we Relate to Each Other and Those we Care For” We would like to invite you as part of the Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice community to join in one of these sessions and share your thoughts on the subject as well as listen to others.

All of us are excited about re-invigorating the culture of the house as we respond to the challenges of change. With the participation of our staff, volunteers and you, we will continue to build a culture that is relevant and effective to our times. 

Please feel to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. Thank you so much for your support of our work at Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice.

dwight.wilson@sofriendsofhospice.org

2021 Annual Campaign Results Reflect a Circle of Kindness & Love
We are happy to report that the fall annual campaign supporting Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice and Celia's House hospice residence has provided a tremendous financial lift to our general operating revenue as we enter 2022.

We wish to thank every donor since we know each gift came from the heart and was given in hope that every resident we care for at Celia's House will spend their days with us in peace, surrounded by wonderful caregivers and loving family. Over 220 gifts arrived between November 18 and December 31 and total over $295,000.

Please accept our humble gratitude! Our community shines in beauty and generosity.
Hats & Fashions Created Smiles, Fun & Donations To Support Celia's House

Hospice Unique Boutique volunteer Joyce Brown directed her fine talents as a hat designer to support residents at Celia's House. Using her connections in her hometown, Joyce recently organized a hat and fashion show at Jacksonville's Anchor Valley Wine Bar, with the help of Trotting Fox Boutique's owner, Helena Lopez.

The event, which featured runway models, a raffle, delicious edibles and regional wine tasting, featured Joyce's creative and elegant hats while also showcasing three Jacksonville women's clothing boutiques wares. Joyce donated the proceeds of her hat sales along with the raffle and ticket sales netting $2,500 in support for Celia's House.

Joyce plans another show and sale in the spring with a new round of delightful millinery works of art and encourages volunteers, HUB shoppers, Celia's House supporters and staff to share in the fun.
Top Photo: Joyce Brown (L) enjoys a backstage moment with fellow HUB volunteer Trudy Duncan.
Bottom Photo: A selection of Hats designed by Joyce Brown and sold to support Celia's House.
SPECIAL ART AUCTION - Join the bidding on January 27th with proceeds benefitting Celia's House and Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice
Thanks to a generous donation of the Seale Family we received a wonderful collection of 141 original/signed graphic art posters by famed artist David Lance Goines. We will soon benefit from proceeds of the collection's auction through PBA Galleries of Berkeley, CA beginning on January 27th.

Known most famously for his iconic Chez Panisse posters, Goines work is collected by museums and art collector's alike. Register ahead of time to bid during the first 1/27/22 auction. Additional auctions will continue in months ahead. View the available pieces in this initial auction here (scroll to the bottom of page 3 and top of page 4):

Our gratitude goes out to Shawn, Jill & Cora Lee Seale for this artful gift.
During Pre-Covid and Post-Covid Change, Gratitude Remains Constant
By Eleanor Crescenti, Volunteer Coordinator

Holiday time at Celia’s House again quietly began as staff took on decorating the house rather than relying on the expertise and excitement of the volunteer decorating committee.

The sunroom again did not hold our party for residents and their families. In the previous two years, this gathering provided a memorable moment in time for loved ones to honor perhaps a last holiday together.

For those of us who have been with Celia’s House since pre-Covid times, there is an impulse to hold the merriment of our first two holiday seasons as the gold standard for how things should be. Consequently, a bit of nostalgia tends to emerge, the kind that holidays often bring out of even the most present-minded person.

But just as one shoulder shrugs while muttering something about this new normal, the amazing smell of a holiday feast hit the air! The healing scents, tastes, and sights of a meal made with love during a season marked by reflection; giving pause and celebration, pulled us out of our longing for how things once were and reminded us to be grateful for this continuity of care pouring forth from the Celia’s House kitchen. 

In gratitude for our great kitchen staff who infused this house once again with reasons to believe that the best is yet to come. Thank you! 

Please contact Eleanor Crescenzi, Volunteer Coordinator to learn more: Eleanor.Crescenzi@sofriendsofhospice.org or call: 541-500-8911 (ext. 304 - Option 5).
With sincere gratitude we thank Lisa Keogh, our donors, shoppers and supporters for helping make The HUB a great success in 2021, providing 18% of the operating budget for Celia’s House. The HUB’s role in funding the beginnings of Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice was and still is essential to providing our valley with the tender care needed at the end of life. We look forward to growing with everyone as this new year unfolds. 

  • Visit our eBay store to see some great new specialty items! Check them out here: The HUB eBay store

Need Help or Have Questions?

For General Information - Call Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice Administrative Offices:
541-500-8911

For Admission Information - Call Celia's House Admissions Information Line at 541-613-0230

Photo Caption: Snow covers Celia's House in winter splendor.

Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice & Celia's House
Mailing Address:
217 S. Modoc Ave., Medford, OR 97504

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