Hospice Happenings

Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show

Friends of Forbes Hospice is sponsoring their annual luncheon and fashion show,

"Fashion With A Flare"

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Churchill Valley Country Club

800 Beulah Road, Penn Hills (Handicapped Accessible)

Starting at 10:30 – Chinese Auction, 50/50 Drawing, Book Sale

White Elephant, Cash Bar

Lunch served at 12:00 noon – Fashion show immediately following

Kohl's Department Store of Monroeville will present exciting new fashions

$35.00 per adult and $16.00 per child (12 and younger)

Master of Ceremonies – Bill Cardille

Proceeds from this event will be used to provide respite care for Forbes Hospice patients and families.

For more information call Joan Wylie at 412–243–3088

Please RSVP by February 13, 2010

Directions to Churchill Valley Country Club:

From Pittsburgh

Take 1–376 East to Exit 10A. At the stop sign, turn right. Bear right at the light, stay straight thru the next light as well as the following blinking lights. Churchill Valley Country Club is down the hill on the left just after the cart bridge over the road.

From Monroeville

Take 1–376 West to Exit 10A. Be aware that you exit to your left. Turn right at the light. Churchill Valley Country Club is straight down the hill on the left just after the cart bridge over the road.

From Route 22 in Monroeville

Stay in the right lane take the Churchill exit. Turn right at the second stop sign. Churchill Valley Country Club is straight down the hill on the left, just after the cart bridge over the road.

Theater Party

Friends of Forbes Hospice is having their third annual Theater Party Benefit for Friends of Forbes Hospice Respite Care Fund.

Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 2:00 pm

City Theater, 1300 Bingham St., Southside.

Parking available in the City Theater parking lot or on–street parking.

Join us for : The Blonde, the Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead by Robert Hewett

Everyone has a story about the day Rhonda, a desperate housewife, went berserk at the mall in a raging crime of passion. One actress transforms onstage into all the characters as each new voice reveals more twists to this comic tour–de–force of love, mistaken identity, and revenge. A runaway hit in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and now the U.S.

Complementary dessert, coffee and tea provided in our private party lounge at City Theater for one hour after the performance.

Back by popular demand will be raffle baskets and a 50/50.

Tickets can be ordered by sending a check made out to Friends of Forbes Hospice, $38 each.

Tickets can be picked up at the door from Joan Wylie starting at 1:00 pm the day of the performance.

Volunteer Training

Future dates to be set up soon !

Forbes Hospice is currently looking for some very special volunteers who understand the importance of hospice in their community. Forbes Hospice serves patients and their families who mainly live in Allegheny and Beaver counties. Volunteers work in a variety of settings and there are many ways to become involved:

11th Hour Volunteers are present with patients when death is imminent
Home Care Volunteers do friendly visiting in the home
Hospice Unit Volunteers help with patient care in Hospice's 12-bed inpatient unit in Oakland
Office Volunteers provide support in the office (help with mailings, putting packets together, phone calls, computer work, etc.)
Spiritual Care Givers work closely with our chaplain and provide pastoral care
Bereavement Volunteers provide grief support
Special Event Volunteers help with marketing, public speaking and special events
Meet & Greet Volunteers welcome patients and visitors into the Hospice unit
Friends of Forbes Hospice (Hospice auxiliary) handle fundraising efforts for Forbes Hospice
Nursing Home Volunteers make visits to patients in nursing homes who provide hospice care

Volunteer training takes place at the Forbes Hospice facility in Oakland (115 S. Neville Street.

If you are interested in volunteering or have questions about the role of a Forbes Hospice volunteer, please call Shelby Anderson, Forbes Hospice, at 412-325-7297.

Forbes Hospice Hosts Compassion Garden Blessing

Forbes Hospice hosted a special blessing of its Compassion Garden on October 13 at their inpatient facility in Oakland. More than 60 people attended the blessing ceremony, led by Hospice chaplain Janet Schaffran. Attendees were encouraged to bring a bag of soil from their own garden to add to the Compassion Garden and to actively participate in the ceremony.

Mark McKenzie, owner of Landscape Architectural Services, LLC, donated more than $8,000 of professional services to create the garden. He designed and installed the garden so Hospice families would have a place to go to for a respite from the emotional hardships of having a loved one in hospice care.

The garden is both functional and aesthetic with ample seating, strategically placed boulders, and shrubs and perennials planted to ensure seasonal interest.

“Before the garden was installed in the fall of 2008, there was no place for people to sit outside,” said Mr. McKenzie. “I wanted to provide a comforting and convenient area outdoors where someone could get away from it all to be quiet and reflect."

Mr. McKenzie was personally aware of the need for such a garden. In addition to serving as a volunteer at Forbes Hospice, his father and aunt were both cared for there, and his mother has also been a Hospice volunteer for 28 years.

Although this garden has been in the planning stages for many years, the first step was in spring of 2006 when two of his father’s favorite trees were planted in his memory.

“It really is remarkable,” said Maryanne Fello, Director, Forbes Hospice. “It had been a longstanding goal of ours to do something like this, and the Compassion Garden really creates a kind of oasis for families to go when they need a break. Mark has shared how he sees the world with us at Forbes Hospice, and we are very grateful for his vision.”

Mr. McKenzie still donates his time and creativity working with local artists and intends to continuously improve the space. “I’m there frequently to do what is needed; be it planting, watering, pruning or promoting the garden to Hospice families,” he said. “It’s invariably a source of conversation. I’ve met so many great people and families working on this project. It’s my little spot and it comforts me.”

$Speaker\'s Bureau$ Search:		Hospice Happenings Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show Friends of Forbes Hospice is sponsoring their annual luncheon and fashion show, "Fashion With A Flare" Saturday, February 27, 2010 Churchill Valley Country Club 800 Beulah Road, Penn Hills (Handicapped Accessible) Starting at 10:30 – Chinese Auction, 50/50 Drawing, Book Sale White Elephant, Cash Bar Lunch served at 12:00 noon – Fashion show immediately following Kohl's Department Store of Monroeville will present exciting new fashions $35.00 per adult and $16.00 per child (12 and younger) Master of Ceremonies – Bill Cardille Proceeds from this event will be used to provide respite care for Forbes Hospice patients and families. For more information call Joan Wylie at 412–243–3088 Please RSVP by February 13, 2010 Directions to Churchill Valley Country Club: From Pittsburgh Take 1–376 East to Exit 10A. At the stop sign, turn right. Bear right at the light, stay straight thru the next light as well as the following blinking lights. Churchill Valley Country Club is down the hill on the left just after the cart bridge over the road. From Monroeville Take 1–376 West to Exit 10A. Be aware that you exit to your left. Turn right at the light. Churchill Valley Country Club is straight down the hill on the left just after the cart bridge over the road. From Route 22 in Monroeville Stay in the right lane take the Churchill exit. Turn right at the second stop sign. Churchill Valley Country Club is straight down the hill on the left, just after the cart bridge over the road. Theater Party Friends of Forbes Hospice is having their third annual Theater Party Benefit for Friends of Forbes Hospice Respite Care Fund. Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 2:00 pm City Theater, 1300 Bingham St., Southside. Parking available in the City Theater parking lot or on–street parking. Join us for : The Blonde, the Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead by Robert Hewett Everyone has a story about the day Rhonda, a desperate housewife, went berserk at the mall in a raging crime of passion. One actress transforms onstage into all the characters as each new voice reveals more twists to this comic tour–de–force of love, mistaken identity, and revenge. A runaway hit in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and now the U.S. Complementary dessert, coffee and tea provided in our private party lounge at City Theater for one hour after the performance. Back by popular demand will be raffle baskets and a 50/50. Tickets can be ordered by sending a check made out to Friends of Forbes Hospice, $38 each. Tickets can be picked up at the door from Joan Wylie starting at 1:00 pm the day of the performance. Volunteer Training Future dates to be set up soon ! Forbes Hospice is currently looking for some very special volunteers who understand the importance of hospice in their community. Forbes Hospice serves patients and their families who mainly live in Allegheny and Beaver counties. Volunteers work in a variety of settings and there are many ways to become involved: 11th Hour Volunteers are present with patients when death is imminent Home Care Volunteers do friendly visiting in the home Hospice Unit Volunteers help with patient care in Hospice's 12-bed inpatient unit in Oakland Office Volunteers provide support in the office (help with mailings, putting packets together, phone calls, computer work, etc.) Spiritual Care Givers work closely with our chaplain and provide pastoral care Bereavement Volunteers provide grief support Special Event Volunteers help with marketing, public speaking and special events Meet & Greet Volunteers welcome patients and visitors into the Hospice unit Friends of Forbes Hospice (Hospice auxiliary) handle fundraising efforts for Forbes Hospice Nursing Home Volunteers make visits to patients in nursing homes who provide hospice care Volunteer training takes place at the Forbes Hospice facility in Oakland (115 S. Neville Street. If you are interested in volunteering or have questions about the role of a Forbes Hospice volunteer, please call Shelby Anderson, Forbes Hospice, at 412-325-7297. Forbes Hospice Hosts Compassion Garden Blessing Forbes Hospice hosted a special blessing of its Compassion Garden on October 13 at their inpatient facility in Oakland. More than 60 people attended the blessing ceremony, led by Hospice chaplain Janet Schaffran. Attendees were encouraged to bring a bag of soil from their own garden to add to the Compassion Garden and to actively participate in the ceremony. Mark McKenzie, owner of Landscape Architectural Services, LLC, donated more than $8,000 of professional services to create the garden. He designed and installed the garden so Hospice families would have a place to go to for a respite from the emotional hardships of having a loved one in hospice care. The garden is both functional and aesthetic with ample seating, strategically placed boulders, and shrubs and perennials planted to ensure seasonal interest. “Before the garden was installed in the fall of 2008, there was no place for people to sit outside,” said Mr. McKenzie. “I wanted to provide a comforting and convenient area outdoors where someone could get away from it all to be quiet and reflect." Mr. McKenzie was personally aware of the need for such a garden. In addition to serving as a volunteer at Forbes Hospice, his father and aunt were both cared for there, and his mother has also been a Hospice volunteer for 28 years. Although this garden has been in the planning stages for many years, the first step was in spring of 2006 when two of his father’s favorite trees were planted in his memory. “It really is remarkable,” said Maryanne Fello, Director, Forbes Hospice. “It had been a longstanding goal of ours to do something like this, and the Compassion Garden really creates a kind of oasis for families to go when they need a break. Mark has shared how he sees the world with us at Forbes Hospice, and we are very grateful for his vision.” Mr. McKenzie still donates his time and creativity working with local artists and intends to continuously improve the space. “I’m there frequently to do what is needed; be it planting, watering, pruning or promoting the garden to Hospice families,” he said. “It’s invariably a source of conversation. I’ve met so many great people and families working on this project. It’s my little spot and it comforts me.”