House of Mercy

HOUSE OF MERCY
Summer 2013 News
Providing a Home and 24-hour Care for Persons Living with AIDS
A Loving Hello and Goodbye
THANK YOU!
Together we raised over
$40,000 from our
20th Annual Walk for AIDS!
Congrats to:
1st Place Team
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Catholic Church
2nd Place Team
South Charlotte Associates
of the Sisters of Mercy
3rd Place Team
Knights of Columbus #11076
4th Place Team
Walking for Dr. Capps
1st Place Individual
Scott Cloninger
2nd Place Individuals
Keith & Tobey Lowe
INSIDE:
Our Non-cash Donors...............3
House of Mercy Notes...............4
Residence Wish List...................4
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Fernando spent the last twenty of his
forty-nine years in Charlotte working to
ensure his airline customers reached their
destinations on time and in good spirits. He has been described as “a 215%
happy, outgoing gentleman who always
takes care of everyone else.”
Fernando arrived at House of Mercy
with severe medical issues following
a hospital stay but he welcomed a steady stream of
concerned friends and neighbors. They cheered him up and brought his favorite ethnic
foods. When his fellow employees discovered he was so sick, they started arriving as
well. Many left his room distraught at his weakened state since they last saw Fernando
prior to his rapid
decline.
Fernando wanted
to see his mother who
lives in their native
country of the Dominican Republic. Fernando’s fellow employees
arranged for their employer to provide free
Fernando’s plane taxis toward the runway as former
air transportation for
co-workers assemble for a farewell tribute.
continued on page 2
Volunteers Light Up the Residence
In this newsletter we
recognize persons and
organizations who have
contributed food, household items and other
goods to House of Mercy.
The value of these in-kind
donations to House of
Mercy is over $20,000
annually and helps us
fulfill our mission and stay
within budget.
Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus!
Perhaps more significantly, our residents feel concern and care from their community when volunteers
continued on page 2
A Loving Hello and Goodbye
continued from page 1
Fernando and a friend (his Health Care Power of Attorney) for
his final trip. On the day of his flight, Fernando met his brother
and sister at the airport after being expedited through check in
and security.
Fernando was unaware he would be receiving an airport
salute at his departure. When the plane taxied to the runway, his
fellow airline employees lined up to salute the jet. Then firetrucks sprayed arches of water as the jet taxied through. The love
and respect displayed brought many to tears. This special tribute
was a healing balm for Fernando who was grieving at leaving
his friends and life in the U.S. and fearful for his Mother to see
his fragile condition.
The staff at House of Mercy was motivated to work with
Fernando’s family and power of attorney to make his last wish
possible. His sister made a request to House of Mercy staff,
“Please pray that our Fernando will make it home tomorrow.”
“What a fantastic opportunity it has
been to care for Fernando! There has never
been such an outpouring of visitors
and love for a resident in my 14 years.”
Shirley Stowe, House of Mercy Director of Nursing
Although Fernando’s’s stay at House of Mercy was only 2
1/2 weeks, the entire House of Mercy staff and Hospice team
has been in awe of this experience and how meaningful it was
for all. Fernando arrived home safely to the loving care of his
mother and extended family. We will never
forget him!
Director of Nursing Shirley Stowe receives donations from
members of the Prime Timers of Charlotte.
Volunteers LIght Up the Residence
continued from page 1
deliver their gifts. Those living at House of Mercy are especially
delighted when volunteers prepare favorite home cooked food,
share fresh bounty from their gardens and help make holidays
special.
Cheri Strickland, Coordinator of Resident Recreation and
Volunteers, says current residents’ favorite summer items from
our Wish List are gift cards to Franklin Regal Cinemas and
Tony’s Ice Cream in Gastonia. They also especially enjoy weekend meals and visitors as Cheri works part time during the week.
Cheri has developed a calendar to schedule volunteer meals,
visits, and holiday parties. See our volunteer page at
www.thehouseofmercy.org
to see available dates or call Cheri at 704-825-3000.
Gather several friends, co-workers or your church group
and plan a shared meal, cook out or holiday celebration at the
residence or plan a visit to a museum or movie night out. We
are open to your ideas and our residents will appreciate your
company.
Leave A Legacy of Mercy
If you find yourself without a will or with a will that
is out-of-date, contact a reputable estate planning
attorney and make an appointment today.
For information on leaving a charitable bequest
to House of Mercy see www.thehouseofmercy.org
for our Leave a Legacy of Mercy brochure on the
Donations page.
2
ts ranged from
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fo
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Age
to eighty-plus ye
several months
House of Mercy Appreciates Your Gifts!
Thanks to those who
contributed non-cash
gifts to House of Mercy
from 7.1.10 to 5.30.13*
Anonymous Donors
Abbott Virology
Adult Care Home Comm.
Gastonia, NC
Alexander Memorial
Baptist Church
Belmont, NC
Alfred Williams & Co.
Charlotte, NC
Altrusa Club of Gaston Co.
Rev. Mark Andrews
Jim & Jan Angel & Family
Marty Barnes
Maggie Baucom
Belmont Abbey College Quilting Program
Belmont Community
Fellowship Garden
Belmont Middle School
Cougar Team
Belmont Neighboring Partners
Beverly Knits, Inc.
Gastonia, NC
Rhonda Blake
David Blanton
Ernie & Joan Bogdahn
Bradley Memorial United Methodist Church,
UMC Women,
Circle of Friendship Gastonia, NC
Richard Bullock
Cato & Tonya Burgess
Robin Bynum
Cabot Creamery
John L. Capps, MD
CaroMont Medical Group Business Services
Ben Carter, Mr. SECC Leather 2012
Centralina Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging
Charlotte Catholic H.S.
Eugene Collins
Carol Cook
Catherine’s House
Charlotte District Young Adult Missionaries
Cherub’s Cafe & Candy Boutique
Chick-fil-A, Belmont, NC
Chillin’ & Grillin’ Catering
Iron Station, NC
Earl, Dot & Scott Cloninger
Eugene Collins
Convergance Riders
Covenant United
Methodist Church
New Spirit Circle
Gastonia, NC
Don Dallman
David Baptist Church
Kings Mountain, NC
Charlie Day
Lana Dellinger
Diocesan Ministry for Gay & Lesbian Catholics
Don’t H8, Inc.
Lincolnton, NC
East Belmont Baptist Church
East Belmont Church of God
East Stonewall AME Zion Church YAMS
Charlotte, NC
Electrolux Major Appli-
ances Intl., Charlotte
Environmental Diversified
Services
Fairfield United Methodist Church, Denver, NC
Faith Victory Ministry
Waxhaw, NC
Roger Fenlon
John Ferri
First Baptist Church and
Monday Night Ministry
& Mission Action Group
Belmont, NC
First United Methodist Church, Square II
Belmont, NC
First United Methodist Church, Mt. Holly, NC
Food Lion, Belmont, NC
Forestview High School Impact Club
Mrs. Margaret Fox
John Francis & Steve Fitch
Cindy Frye
Gamma Phi Delta Sorority
Gaston County Missionary Union
Kings Mountain, NC
Kelly Gaulden
God’s Temple of Zion Church, Women’s & Missionary Ministry
Waxhaw, NC
Reuben & Mildred Gourley
Liz Gray
Roseanne Gray
Greater Gethsemane AME Zion Church
Charlotte, NC
Breezy Gross
CJ & Kristy Grouse
Chanda Hartness
Connie Hastings
Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Denver, NC
Hood Memorial AME Zion Church, Belmont, NC
Hospice & Palliative Care of Charlotte
The Howey Family
Scottie Hutchison
ID Associates & Friends
Gastonia, NC
Jennifer Jackson
Bernice Jant
Gloria Jefferies
Jonesville AME Zion Church
Matthews, NC
Chris Joy
Willie King, Jr.
Kings Mountain Family Worship Church of God
Stuart J. LaFrancis
Las Amigas, Inc.
Gastonia Chapter
Jo-An Lattanzi
Bill & Carolyn Lesser
Lincolnton District AME Zion Young Adult Missionary Society
Keith & Tobey Lowe
Jeran Maples
Mary Pat’s Fine Things
Margaret Mayes
Reid McGraw
Larry & Gail McLaughlin
LeatherFet
McLaughlin Young Group
Mecklenburg Co. District Attorney’s Office
Mercy Housing SE/
Mercy Place & Residents
Metropolitan Community Church of Charlotte
Microbroo, LLC
Asheville, NC
Middle Street AME Zion Church, Charlotte
Anne G. Miller
Paul Mitchell, the School
Moore’s Sanctuary AME Zion Church YAMS
Charlotte, NC
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
& Missionary Dept.
Gastonia, NC
Mt. Carmel Baptist Church
Charlotte, NC
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church
Belmont, NC
Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church
Waxhaw, NC
Gwen Nance
Michael & Leigh Nance
New Beginnings
Community Church
Matthews, NC
Beverly & Royce Norman-
Cooper
Linda & Sebastien Olson
Order of the Eastern Star
Deborah Chapter #424
Order of the Eastern Star
Osie B. Ferguson
Chapter #674
Papa John’s Pizza
Belmont, NC
Gayatri Pariwar
Charlotte, NC
Park Street United
Methodist Church
Belmont, NC
Micah & Dana Parris
Regina Pastula
Amit Patel
Sister Angela Perez
Sister Monica Perez
Pfeiffer MFT-GSA
PFLAG Gaston County
Prime Timers of Charlotte
Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church and
Middle School Youth
Belmont, NC
Deborah Cleary Raynor
Reid H.S. Class of 1966
Charlotte, NC
RK T-Shirts, LLC
Martha Rockett
Rockwell AME Zion Church YET Ministry
Charlotte, NC
Sue Salmen
Sam’s Club #6414
Gastonia, NC
Jeff Sasser & Robert Baxley
SGCSA 94 Hurricanes
Soccer Team
Beth Sitton & Friends in Rutherford County, NC
Cleve & Katie Smith
Tonya Starnes
Jennie Stultz & Gastonia Mayor’s Leadership Council
St. Gabriel Catholic Church
Charlotte, NC
St. Maximilian Kolbe Fraternity SFO
Huntersville, NC
St. Paul Baptist Church,
Untainted Love
Ministries, Youth
Missionary Group
Charlotte, NC
Michelle Stinnett
Marjorie Storch
Shirley Stowe
Target Stores #2074;
#213; #918; #1793;
Rea Road, South Blvd.,
University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC
Deanna Taylor
James Terenzi
TF Music, Charlotte, NC
The Tradesmen L/L. Inc.
The Woodshed Lounge
Charlotte, NC
Tony’s Ice Cream
Gastonia, NC
Pat Tracy & Pat Scruggs
Tri River Guardians
Columbia, SC
United National Masons & Eastern Stars,
Imani Chapter #396
University of Connecticut
University of Georgia “IMPACT”
Walt Vernooy & Ryan LaPrade
Vestibule AME Zion Church Missionary Group, Kings Mountain
Walls Memorial AME Zion Church, Charlotte
Wandisa Watson
Wesley Chapel Holiness Church & Women’s Ministry, Mt. Holly, NC
Westview Baptist Church
Charlotte, NC
Paula Wilkerson
Madlyn Yap
Zack Alexander Assembly #35, Davidson, NC
Zanetta & Coreen
*Cash donors will be
recognized in the fall issue.
Let us know if we have
inadvertantly omitted your
name, listed it incorrectly
or if you’d prefer to
remain anonymous.
Thanks to Our 2013 Walk Sponsors and Friends
RK T-Shirts, LLC
Custom Novelty Wholesale
St. Mark
Catholic Church
T H E
K E I T H
H A R I N G
F O U N D A T I O N
I N C .
Beam Electric Co. • John Capps, MD • Dermatologic Laser Center
Goodwill Publishers • ScarfCart.com • Toby Outdoor LLC
3
HOUSE OF MERCY
PO Box 808, Belmont, NC 28012
www.thehouseofmercy.org
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 16
A Ministry of the Sisters of Mercy
Providing a Home for Persons Living with AIDS
alk for AIDS
20th Annual W
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HOUSE OF MERCY NOTES
• A recent note from our Director of Nurs-
ing: “We rescued a 22 year-old young man
from dying in a hotel room in pain. Though he
was with us just over 24 hours, he died after
receiving pain medication and the gentle care
of the caregivers. He arrived in the most foul smelling, soiled
clothes we have possibly ever seen. Lots more to be said about
the lack of care and sensitivity he had apparently been subjected to. The supervisor from Hospice Palliative Care Charlotte
Region called me yesterday to thank us for “going the extra
mile to make that admission happen.” It really is a privilege
and humbles me to bear witness to the work that we do.
• We remember: Devoted House of Mercy medical advisor and
board member John L. Capps, MD; House of Mercy supporter
Jim Angel; and the nine House of Mercy residents who passed
away since July 1, 2012.
• House of Mercy received recent grants from the Dover
Foundation, Carolinas Care Partnership, MAC AIDS Fund, and
Walmart. Thank you!
• Please consider a donation via the enclosed reply envelope
or a credit card donation online at www.thehouseofmercy.org
The Sisters of Mercy provide funds sufficient to cover all of our
administrative expenses. House of Mercy meets Better Business
Bureau Charitable Giving Standards and again earned a 4-star
rating from the N.C. Dept. of Health & Human Services.
Residence Wish List
These items are needed at House of Mercy and
can be dropped off at 701 Mercy Drive in Belmont on the
Sisters of Mercy campus (or call 704-825-4711).
•Donated meals and drinks: bottled juice, soda, Kool Aid, Crystal Light, tea bags, Gatorade
• XL garbage bags, liquid laundry & dish de-
tergent, Clorox, Brillo pads, Lysol, Mr. Clean
• Movie tickets to Franklin Square (Gastonia)
• Gift cards: WalMart, Golden Corral, Pizza Hut, Tony’s Ice Cream, KFC, local restaurants
• Pantry staples
• Light bulbs, 40 & 75 watt
• Gallon freezer Ziplock bags • Individually
• Denture cleanser & adhesive wrapped snacks
• Canned foods
• Dove soap: bar or liquid
• Canned fruit cups
• Body wash, deodorant
• Flushable wipes
• Shampoo, conditioner
• Paper towels
• Dandruff shampoo
• Toilet paper
• Triple blade razors
• Kleenex
• Vaseline, chapstick
• Hand Sanitizer
House of Mercy Board of Directors
Maggie Baucom, Chair • Pat Brown • Sidney Echevarria • Dee Dee Ellis • Mike Grace, Treasurer • Sandy Kumm • Sinéad O’Doherty, Secretary
Stan Patterson, President/CEO • Laura Poloniewicz, Vice Chair • Sister Jill Katherine Weber