APPRECIATION GIFT … Montpelier Hospital Auxiliary welcomed Todd Fruth, right, transitions services coordinator for Sara’s Garden, as speaker at the November 13th meeting in the hospital conference room. He was presented an appreciation gift on behalf of the auxiliary by President Armeda Sawmiller, left. The auxiliary will sponsor the annual “Lighting the Way to Christmas” memorial program on Sunday, December 3rd at 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Methodist Church, 402 Broad St., Montpelier. The public is invited and admission is free.
Todd Fruth, Transition Services Coordinator for Sara’s Garden, addressed members of CHWC-Montpelier Hospital Auxiliary at the general meeting Monday, November 13th at 1:00 p.m. in the hospital conference room.
Auxiliary President Armeda Sawmiller opened the meeting leading the auxiliary prayer and introduced Mr. Fruth who spoke on the services offered by Sara’s Garden with offices in Wauseon and Holland, OH.
Originally founded as a facility in Wauseon to treat only children with cerebral palsy with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Sara’s Garden has expanded over the years to include therapy for clients of all ages and conditions, New Horizons Academy campuses in Wauseon and Holland, and Special Grounds Coffee Co. career center in Wauseon.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy assists the body to heal from conditions where low oxygen in tissues restrict or complicate healing processes. Depending on individuals, the number and length of treatments and pressure applied may vary.
These treatments or “dives” may last from 60-90 minutes for one or two sessions a day, with pressure settings from 17-45 feet below sea level, with clients needing 5-40 treatments total.
Many medical conditions such as autism, burns, cancer, ALS, CP, MS, RSD/CRPS, Parkinson’s, stroke, seizures, sports injuries, traumatic brain injury and wound healing all may be treated by this type of therapy.
The Wauseon facility provides two larger chambers for multiple clients at the same time and some individual pods.
New Horizons Academy offers a holistic, all-encompassing education program to pre-school through Grade 12 students with special learning needs. The academy, located on two campuses in Wauseon and Holland, serves 37 school districts in Northwest Ohio.
The mission is to provide high-quality education and empower children with disabilities to reach their full potential. The Hope Center is designated for the younger children. The average ratio of staff to students is one teacher and one aide assigned to five or six students.
Special Grounds Coffee Co. is a career center with in-house vocational training and opportunities for employment for individuals with disabilities.
This full-functional coffee shop is staffed by many special needs high school students, currently totaling 26. Coffee beans are imported from various countries and hand-roasted on-site. Profits are invested into mission organizations, locally and in countries where the coffee beans were grown.
Sara’s Garden employs a staff of 148 at all locations. For more information about Sara’s Garden, please contact the Wauseon office at 620 West Leggett St., or phone 419-335-7272. Following Mr. Fruth’s presentation, he was presented an appreciation gift from the auxiliary.
President Armeda conducted the business portion of the meeting with the thought for the day—“Happiness is like jam. You can’t spread even a little without getting some on yourself.” Roll call was answered with “Your favorite food for Thanksgiving”.
Following reports by Secretary Connie Dunseth and Treasurer Joyce Schelling, plans were discussed for the “Lighting the Way to Christmas” Memorial Program on Sunday, December 3rd at 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Methodist Church, 402 Broad St., Montpelier.
Flyers for this free public event are being displayed in the community and on Facebook. Dedication forms for memorial angels and luminaries are available for donations and names of those dedicated will be included in the memorial roster.
These forms must be received by November 27th to be included in the program. Contact Treasurer Joyce Schelling, ph: 419-459-4696, for more information.
Elaine Willibey reported that 15 walker bags have been sewn and donated for patient use. More bags will be provided as needed. Historian Ruth Cooley has knives from the former gift shop available for donations. Cindy Clark is in charge of patient favors for the month of November.
A card was signed for Vice President Linda Dilworth who was unable to attend. Boxes of candy will be wrapped for Christmas gifts after the next executive board meeting Monday, December 4th.
The annual Hospital Auxiliary Christmas Luncheon meeting is planned Monday, December 11th at 12 noon in the fellowship hall at First Presbyterian Church, Montpelier. Reservations are needed by December 4th by calling President Armeda Sawmiller, ph: 419-485-4567.
The menu will be chicken breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, roll, beverage, and pie. The cost of luncheon is $14.00 per plate. Guests are always welcome. The speaker will be Tara Richmond, an Optometrist from Northwest Ohio Vision Center.
Members are asked to bring a Christmas card for hospital card shower and paper products for donation to the food pantry. Roll call will be “an unusual gift made for someone”.