WICHP Receives $20,000 Grant
This January the Washington Island Community Health Program (WICHP) was awarded a two-year, $20,000 grant from the Helen Bader Foundation. This is the second time that WICHP has received a grant from the Bader Foundation, the first being a 3-year start-up grant awarded in 2007. At that time WICHP was established as a non-profit entity dedicated to assisting Island residents to maintain a safe and independent lifestyle and connecting older residents to services when needed to enable them to remain independent in their homes and community. This recent grant will help fund WICHP’s many activities during 2011 and 2012. The Helen Bader Foundation is based in Milwaukee and is a philanthropic leader in improving the quality of life of the diverse communities. Since it was established in 1991, it has awarded more than $187 million in grants.
During the past 4 years, WICHP has targeted its efforts to bring needed services to the Island and to expand existing services that support healthy aging and assist older residents to remain safely in their own homes. As a result of these efforts, many new and expanded on-island programs have been developed. These activities are described in this and future articles focusing on WICHP.
Medical Equipment Loan Closet
The medical equipment Loan Closet, created in partnership with Neighbor-to-Neighbor of Sturgeon Bay in 2007, is housed in the basement of Trinity Lutheran Church. This arrangement has made various types of medical equipment available whenever it is needed, including nights and weekends. Our Loan Closet is a busy place, supplying numerous residents with walkers, canes, crutches, wheel chairs, shower benches, hand-held showers, and other pieces of medical equipment. Equipment is available to anyone who has a need and is used by residents and visitors alike. If we cannot meet a need from our Loan Closet, we check with other loan closet sites in Door County for availability. Janet Hanlin is the dedicated volunteer who oversees the equipment, and her efforts in helping us to maintain this special service are much appreciated by all who find themselves in need of medical equipment. The Loan Closet will be moving from the former kitchen basement area to a newly renovated area in the western portion of the church basement later this spring.
Home Delivered Meals
WICHP recruited and trained volunteer driver/meal deliverers to establish an Island home-delivered meals program. Since 2008, these dedicated volunteers have delivered nutritious meals ten times per month. Each hot lunch delivered also includes a cheery visit that helps the homebound remain connected to the community. During 2010, 433 meals were delivered by 20 volunteers. We are always open to training more volunteers to perform this valuable service.
Blood Pressure Screening
Helping Islanders maintain good health has been a WICHP focus and one of several programs to assist in that effort is the blood pressure screening/monitoring that occurs on the third Sunday of each month at Bethel and Trinity churches. This screening occasionally identifies someone with unknown high blood pressure, giving them the opportunity to seek needed medical management.
The next WICHP update will highlight results from the Food Pantry and Medical Travel Fund. If you have any questions about these or other WICHP programs, please call Carole Machek, RN, Program Director at 847-2178.
–by Carole Machek
