BBQ & Auction, Thursday April 26 at SECU Family House

Golf Tournament, Friday April 27 at UNC’s Finley Golf Course

Please feel free to download images for your personal use. We request that if you would like to use these images for publication (online or otherwise) you first contact us by writing to kirsten@secufamilyhouse.org or calling 919.932.8005.

And, of course, please properly attribute the image:
Photo by Steve Campbell, Courtesy of SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals.

You know you want some Chick-fil-A… that original chicken sandwich, those waffle fries, the milkshakes. Now you have an excuse to eat there: You’ll be raising money for the SECU Family House.

Thursday, March 15th, from 5 to 7 p.m. Chick-fil-A at University Mall will have “Spirit Night” for SECU Family House. Mention our name when you purchase your meal and part of the proceeds for the evening will come to us.

Volunteers and donations are critical to the SECU Family House’s ability to provide an affordable, comfortable home away from home for our guests who are receiving treatment at UNC Hospitals or who serve as the support system for those patients. On this Leap Day, here are 29 ways we rely on volunteers to help us make our House a home. We thank them for their service, and invite you to get involved!

1. Fold and sort house laundry
2. Organize the pantry to help minimize food waste
3. Bring by unopened perishable foods (milk, eggs, butter) to help stock our fridges
4. Perform (sing, ready poetry, play music) in the evening for the house guests
5. Drop off books or DVDs you no longer use for guests to enjoy
6. Help us tend to our gardens
7. Drop off skeins of yarn and other knitting supplies for our knitting group
8. Lead a knitting group, or teach newbies to knit
9. Provide a professional service for free to guests: massages, manicures, haircuts
10. Drop by gift cards to stores like Wal-Mart, Target and Sam’s Club
11. Donate stationery for our guests to use
12. Make a gift—of any amount—to our annual fund, the Circle of Hope
13. Prepare a meal for our house guests
14. Come by and bake some cookies for our guests
15. Become a front-desk volunteer who meets, greets and assists guests
16. Donate food storage items, especially durable Tupperware
17. Bring by pots and pans for our guests to use
18. Donate ground coffee, cooking oils or any other essential food item
19. Drop off paper products: paper towels, napkins, and toilet paper
20. Donate your hotel/travel size toiletry items
21. Help us bundle toiletry items into kits for guest rooms
22. Tend to the kitchen: empty and load dishwashers
23. Attend a Family House event, like our annual BBQ and Golf Tournament or House Party
24. Donate items or services that we can auction at our two annual fundraisers
25. Help with “around the house” projects, like cleaning windows
26. Provide a professional service for the house: painting, carpet cleaning, handyman work
27. Sell lemonade or baked goods, or hold another community fundraiser,  for Family House
28. Bring your therapy dog to the house to visit with guests
29. Make a $40 gift to Fund a Family for a night

Wivi Sternbach, center, with fellow "Racquettes" Laurie Parkhill Ecker and Olga Murphy

SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals thrives on the efforts of a committed, generous group of volunteers. Many have been volunteers here since our doors first opened in March 2008. Some, like Wivi Sternbach, were here even before then.

The opening date had been set, and the house was not yet livable when Wivi (pronounced “Vee-Vee”) responded to an urgent call for volunteers in 2008. Her first roles included helping to prepare guest rooms by doing laundry and making beds. Wivi says what drew her to the house initially was a sense of curiosity.

“The first time I saw the house I thought it was too good to be true,” she says.

Since leaving her home in Denmark, Wivi has lived in Chapel Hill for 32 years with her husband Dan, whom she met in Zurich, Switzerland, while he was a post-doc.

Once the Family House was up and running, Wivi once again responded to a call for volunteers, this time to pick up food from Trader Joe’s on the first Monday of the month, which soon became the first and second Monday of the month (she now delivers groceries three weeks in a row if there’s a fifth Monday in the month). Trader Joe’s donates food items that are not fit for sale but safe for consumption, and guests have access to generous amounts of fresh produce, bread, select meats, and desserts each week.

For a while, Wivi dropped off the food, wishing there was some way she could help guests enjoy it. A solution soon presented itself: Wivi now often uses her Monday morning grocery runs to her advantage when she makes meals for the house guests on the second Monday of every month. She coordinates her 16-member tennis team, “The Racquettes,” each month, working with the first four that respond to her call to prepare a meal.

Each team member has her own strengths and favorite foods to prepare—whether that’s cake, cornbread made from scratch, or macaroni and cheese. Depending on the meal, The Racquettes will either prepare meals at home or in the Family House kitchen, which is equipped with four cook-top stoves to ease food production for large groups. Groups preparing meals are asked to accommodate as many as 50 guests.

“I have everything down to a science,” Wivi says. “How much meat, how many potatoes, how many vegetables to bring.”

A gourmet-caliber chef, Wivi prefers to cook nutritional meals that feature chicken, London broil, pork loin, or ham. Though she modestly neglects to mention her culinary skills, it’s apparent that she does so because, to her, it’s about the act of preparing the meal, not the skills involved. “The guests are so thankful,” she says.

“When I leave here I’m so thankful that I don’t have to stay here.” She speaks from a personal place in saying so. Wivi and her husband lost a daughter four years ago at the age of 22. Her daughter’s illness required several surgeries, which took place in Charlotte. There was no place at that time like the Family House, so she had the additional stress and expense of finding lodging and meals—and being away from home—during those periods of surgery and recovery.

“My daughter, I think, is part of why I started volunteering here.”

She has been a steady, gracious, and generous presence in the house. After water damage in 2008 closed the house for three months of repairs, Wivi once again helped to pull the house back together for guests.

“It’s hard to say no,” she says, when asked to help. To Wivi, her fellow volunteers are like family—not only have many been here since we opened, but most also are connected outside of the house. So much so that she says walking in the doors here is “like coming home.”

The commitment of volunteers is something that Wivi sees across the board at the Family House. “Everybody’s always so willing to help.”

That commitment itself also feels like home to Wivi, who credits her Danish upbringing with instilling in her a sense of service.

“I think everybody should give back to the community,” she says. “Plus, it makes you feel good.”

When asked what SECU Family House means to them, Roger and Nola said, “It’s one more blessing. It’s like home. We’ve met so many wonderful people. We never have to ask for anything. It’s always there. There’s lots of love and compassion here.” Roger further noted that staying at the House takes a lot of “pressure” off of him. He can concentrate on getting well and returning home to his wife.

For Roger and Nola, SECU Family House is about the people—the guests and staff. Roger tells us, “Everyone here is great. There is no one like Janice (House Manager). She never fails me. When the chips are at their worst and I need a place to stay, she pulls it out. She never has a bad word to say. She’s got a positive attitude and that’s what I need for this disease.”

“Housing, healing, hope”: It’s what we strive to offer every day. For Roger and Nola, SECU Family House provides the kind of hope—for a cure, for a room, for some kindness and comfort—that they have come here to UNC to find.

On Thursday and Friday, April 26th and April 27th, 2012, the Tar Heels for SECU Family House BBQ and Golf Tournament hosted by Coach Roy Williams and new Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham will take place at SECU Family House and UNC Finley Golf Course. All proceeds from the tournament benefit SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals, a hospitality house providing comfortable, convenient, and affordable housing and support services for patients undergoing treatment for critical illness or trauma.

We are excited to have Coach Williams and Bubba Cunningham’s support to SECU Family House. Coach Williams and the basketball team have been annual donors to Family House.

Having recently moved to Chapel Hill the new Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham was honored to be a part of co-hosting this event. We are fortunate to have this dynamic duo.

Guests will gather for a tailgate barbeque ($75 per person) on the grounds of SECU Family House the night before the tournament with food kindly provided by Chapel Hill Restaurant Group. There will be a short program, live music, a raffle and auction of thoughtfully selected gifts, featuring sports memorabilia.

Click here to see what’s up for grabs in the auction.

The golf tournament is full, but you still can register online at www.secufamilyhouse.org for the Thursday evening BBQ.

Parking will be available at the NC Botanical Gardens, with overflow parking available at Finley Field and Finley Golf Course. Shuttles will drop guests at registration and return them to their cars at the end of the evening.

Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

• UNC Health Care

Platinum Sponsor

• Butch and Tammy Davis

Gold Sponsor

• Uday and Laura Reebye

Silver Sponsors

• Mike and Cathy Fields
• Yvonne Knutson and Ann Petersen

Bronze Sponsors

• Franklin Street Partners
• Jon & Myra Jester and Gene & Jeannie Jester
• Pozen
• SKANSKA
• T.A. Loving Co.
• Wells Fargo
• Wells Fargo Advisors

Patron Sponsors

• Atma Hotel Group, Inc.
• Ballentine Associates
• Clancy & Theys Construction Co.
• Educational Foundation (The Ram’s Club)
• Jeff and Amber Elliott
• Steve and Lynn Fromme
• Genentech
• MHAworks
• Morgan Creek Capital Management Co., LLC
• Morris Commercial
• Paul Muenzner
• One to One DocuSource
• Tom and Kathy Shea

With additional financial support from Gilead Sciences

In-Kind Sponsors

• Benjamin & Associates
• Chapel Hill Restaurant Group
• Café Carolina
• Chick-fil-A of University Mall, Chapel Hill
• The Fresh Market
• Dana & Esteban McMahan
• TaylorMade
• Eddie Williams with Time Out Restaurant
• Top of the Hill
• UNC Athletic Department

Special Thanks to:

Jones Angell, Don Basnight, Carolina Dining Services, Chapel Hill Magazine, Dick Gordon’s Canadian Team, Chris Kubiak of Titleist, Nike, Performance BMW, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse,  UNC Finley Golf Course, Wentworth & Sloan, Eddie Williams and Time-Out Restaurant

And check out one of our featured auction item sponsors, Dinner is Served! Personal Chef Lynn Edgar serves up fine food that’s both delicious and nutritious. Bid on an in-home cooking lesson with her in our silent auction.

George and Trudy’s son, Ken Hall, 55, of Plainville, Ga., received a bone marrow transplant at UNC Hospitals in early August. Since the transplant, George and Trudy have stayed with Ken when his wife, Susan, could not be here.

After Ken’s leukemia diagnosis last spring, doctors recommended a bone marrow transplant. Ken’s sister was a 10 out of 11 match and agreed to be the donor. As of Oct. 5th, the transplanted bone marrow had assimilated by 98 percent, meaning it had almost fully integrated into Ken’s body.

Because of reduced immunity following the transplant, Ken has to be careful to avoid infection. Ken has to wear a surgical mask and avoid getting cuts or scrapes because of the increased risk for infection. Ken is not even allowed to shave with a bladed razor.

Though Ken is on a long road to recovery, George and Trudy said they are happy to be with their son. Because of the distance between Pennsylvania and Georgia, Trudy said she and George do not get to see Ken as often as they would like. “It gave us a real visit,” she said.

George and Trudy also said they could not be happier with their stay at Family House. George described the house as being comforting. “It’s sort of an aura,” he said.

Trudy added, “It’s more than that.”

George and Trudy said one of the best aspects of the house is the sense of community. “To have a group around you that is essentially sharing your plight—it’s been good,” George said.

Not only did the staff and guests at Family House share in George and Trudy’s struggles, they also shared in their joys. George and Trudy met on a blind date in January of 1951 and were married in October of 1952. The couple celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary while staying at the house. Staff provided the cake and candles.

In addition to the staff and other guests, George and Trudy said the physical surroundings of Family House add to the sense of community. They said their favorite room is the kitchen because of the relaxed, social atmosphere. “You make friends,” Trudy said.

The kitchen is also where the couple discovered their new-found love for Southern cooking. George and Trudy said they enjoyed Carolina BBQ and sweet potato dishes the most. They purchased several North Carolina cookbooks to take home to Pennsylvania.

Ken has recovered enough to return to Georgia, so the family’s stay at the house is coming to a close. George and Trudy said leaving the house will be bittersweet. Despite the difficulties of their son’s illness, George and Trudy said their experience with Family House was a positive one. “The surroundings have made the circumstances more than bearable,” George said. Trudy agreed. “It is a home away from home,” she said.

With his trademark grin, George said he hoped he would never see the Family House staff again. But, he did say he would miss us. It has been our great fortune to get to know these wonderful, kind people.

Among our many guests from down that way are Capt. (U.S. Army, retired) John Shoemaker and his wife, Motsie, who recently stayed with us while John underwent radiation treatments for thymic and hip cancer. John, originally from Fayetteville, was awarded the Bronze and Silver Stars for his heroism while serving in Vietnam.

Despite having been married for 46 years, the Shoemakers sound and act like newlyweds. During their three week stay at Family House, Motsie and John gained a great deal of comfort by sharing their story with other guests here. In their words, Family House is a “community where everyone supports one another. You know that the person sitting next to you at dinner is hurting, too, so you start with a common bond before even knowing the person’s diagnosis. Everyone takes care of each other here.” What impressed Motsie the most is that “the staff and volunteers always greet you with a smile. It’s like an extension of the hospital.  Family House is an answer to our prayers. It’s a special place.”

The Shoemakers know that they’ll be dealing with John’s cancer for awhile. But, thanks to Family House and a great team of doctors and nurses at UNC Hospitals that includes Dr. Tom Stinchcombe, oncologist, and Dr. Larry Marks, radiologist, the Shoemakers consider every day a gift. Determination and character pulled them through the injuries John sustained in Vietnam and through 46 years of marriage. That same determination will help them weather this latest storm: the ups and downs of fighting cancer. Fortunately, John has the moxie (and the Motsie) to see him through.

Leading the coordination of the church’s “Mission Month for SECU Family House” were Jacquie Terry and Billy Terry, both former guests and relatives, who often stayed at the House at the same time while facing the daily challenges of their spouses’ treatments. Billy’s wife (and Jacquie’s sister), Lisa, passed away in April, 2009, after nearly a year of intermittent stays at SECU Family House and a 5 ½-year-long fight against leukemia. Jacquie’s husband Danny (Billy’s brother) passed away in May, 2009, after several months of treatment for pancreatic cancer at UNC Hospitals.

Although the extended Terry family had been supporting Family House from afar since Danny and Lisa had passed away, Jacquie and Billy encouraged their fellow church members to devote May’s “Mission Month” to in-kind support of Family House, a place that had been such a welcome retreat at a painful time in their lives. Earlier in the year, Jacquie invited Yvonne Knutson, our director of marketing and community relations, to speak at her church. Yvonne says that, when she arrived that Sunday evening for her presentation, she “quickly realized it was more of a family than a group of church members.” Billy shared his story about what Family House meant to him when his wife Lisa and his brother Danny needed treatment far from home.

What started as an initiative to collect a few toiletries for guests became a much larger venture, including a sizeable collection of welcome bags, pantry staples including boxes of Splenda, sugars, baking goods, Ziploc bags, toilet paper and paper towels, a blender and a food processor. It was an added treat that these good folks from Hope Mills prepared a meal that night for Family House guests and stayed to visit with the families.

The Terry family’s continued involvement exemplifies the positive impact families have on Family House even after they have left. The generosity and kindness shown by this group is remarkable and will make a difference for many families who need Family House this summer and into the fall.  This church embraces its call to love their neighbor.

If your church or community group would like to conduct a collection of Wish List items on behalf of Family House or invite a Family House staff member to share more information about what we offer, who we serve, and how you might help, please contact Yvonne Knutson, director of marketing and community relations, at Yvonne@secufamilyhouse.org or 919-932-8001.

July 24-30 marks National Hospitality House Week, and the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill and SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals want to recognize and affirm all the work accomplished by their wonderful volunteers and donors who make our homes such special places.  Thousands of families and patients of all ages and walks of life have found a haven within the warm home-like environments provided by our neighboring hospitality houses.  Ronald McDonald House serves seriously ill children up to the age of 17, together with their families. SECU Family House provides lodging and support to seriously ill patients 18 and above. Across the country, homes that help and heal have become community assets, adding significant value to the medical centers and rehabilitation facilities whose patients and families they serve.

Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill and SECU Family House at UNC are both active members of the National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses (www.nahhh.org) and will be co-hosting NAHHH’s 25th Anniversary and Conference in Chapel Hill, NC, from October 10th-13th.  If your business would like to take part in or learn more about the conference, please contact Conference@nahhh.org or 1-800-542-9730.

For more information about the Ronald McDonald House, visit www.rmh-chapelhill.org. For more information on SECU Family House, visit www.secufamilyhouse.org.

Volunteer group serves delicious meal to SECU Family House guests

Full dining room at SECU Family House enjoying meal prepared by volunteers

Contacts:

Elizabeth Hullender, Director of Marketing and Special Events, Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill,   919.913.2045,  Elizabeth.hullender@rmh-chapelhill.org

Yvonne Knutson, Director of Marketing and Community Relations, SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals, 919.932.8001, Yvonne@secufamilyhouse.org