Santa Clara Valley Hospice celebrates 32nd anniversary at annual meeting
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: January 30, 2013
Santa Clara Valley Hospice/Home Support Group celebrated decades of ongoing community support at its 32nd Annual Meeting, where founders, volunteers and staff gathered to mark continued success in providing an array of always free services to river valley residents.
The January 16 celebration was held at Logsdon’s at the Santa Paula Airport.
Founded in 1980 and incorporated the next year, the volunteer Hospice can serve anyone who is experiencing the impact of life-altering illness or death - regardless of the patient’s diagnosis, treatment choice, or life-expectancy - with comfort care and a team approach.
The luncheon drew those who helped found the organization such as Jane Marcus, as well as those newer volunteers - husband and wife Hospice board directors Bob and Barbara Vogel - who help ensure services are available for all in need. Guests included Jaime Fontes, city manager and longtime supporter, and volunteer Gary M. Deutsch, M.D.
The Pastor Ron Dybvig offered the invocation, and newly installed President Rachel Bustillos thanked the Hospice Board of Directors and volunteers for their tireless efforts on behalf of those who use the organization’s services.
Board Director Gary Nasalroad urged all to participate in the Hospice/America In Bloom annual plant sale, this year to be held for two days. “This is huge,” noted Nasalroad, especially as “we’re going to have twice as many plants” to match the expanded sale schedule.
Plant prices, he added, will be lowered to help move the volume. All proceeds benefit Hospice and America In Bloom.
Nasalroad introduced the featured speaker: Tonya Shepley has worked in the health and nutrition field for 13 years - urging people to improve their health for a future of thriving, not just surviving.
Shepley told personal stories of family premature death that led to her own journey toward a healthier lifestyle, particularly diet. During her “Good Nutrition Made Simple” presentation she clearly illustrated the alarmingly high sugar content of certain foods and offered tips on eating for wellness, including consuming more fruit and vegetables, even in supplement forms.
Hospice Executive Director Sigrid Best Wong served the dessert following the presentation, noting with a laugh, “This is carrot cake.... Think more about the carrot” and the fact that the recipe uses much less processed sugar than others.
Hospice not only provides for the emotional, social and spiritual support to persons with life-limiting illnesses and their families; its array of services also include equipment loans and respite for caregivers, transportation to medical appointments and home cooked delivered meals and flowers, as well as an extensive library of books, DVDs and cassette tapes. These and all other Santa Clara Valley Hospice/Home Support Group services are offered free of charge, and the organization also provides $500 grants to help qualifying families with funeral expenses.
For more information or to learn how you can support Hospice call 525-1333.
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