November 17, 2025 • 16 mins
We highlight two local efforts that support people through the toughest seasons: a no-barrier warming shelter that keeps neighbors safe overnight and a memorial tradition that helps families grieve together during the holidays. Practical needs are met with tender rituals, and both rely on volunteers and clear information.
• Center of Hope’s nightly drop-in warming shelter hours and services
• Volunteer shifts that cover overnight windows and keep doors open
• Location update at the Douglas Center School Annex
• Immediate needs including water, coffee, hygiene and sanitation items
• Good Shepherd’s Light of Life Memorial ornaments and dedication ceremony
• Reading of names and community remembrance across years of loss
• Year-round donations supporting nonprofit hospice and home health care
• Clearing up hospice myths and explaining access and coverage
• Holidays at the hospice house with meals, decor and family comfort
• We Honor Veterans pinning ceremonies and their meaning
• GMCF’s support role and links to resources
You can always find out more about the work that we do at the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation on our website, mcfks.org
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
Philanthropy today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode, we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour, asheard on news radio KMAN.
We return with the GMCFCommunity Hour.
And guess what?
We have two guests in the studionow.
And uh we're gonna make this uhpretty quick work.
(00:20):
Angela Stoutenberg is in.
Thanks for for joining us herethis morning.
It's always a delight to haveyou here.
SPEAKER_00 (00:26):
It's good to see you again, Dave.
SPEAKER_01 (00:28):
Yes, you are with Center of Hope Ministries, and
uh we're gonna talk real quicklyabout what you do and what we
can do to help you.
SPEAKER_00 (00:35):
Yes, so we are the local warming shelter here in
town.
We're a drop-in shelter.
So that makes us a little bitdifferent than the emergency
shelter.
Um we do co-counsel with BeAblebecause we see the same homeless
people as well as other familiesand stuff like that.
So anybody and everybody iswelcome because we are a private
(00:56):
organization.
We don't have any rules orregulations and we don't have to
turn anybody away.
So um during the hours of 7 p.m.
to 8 a.m.
every day, we are open andanybody and everybody can get
out of the cold and come in.
Um, we have snacks for them, amovie play-in games for them.
(01:17):
At about 10 p.m., we do lightsout.
And um, usually everybody ispretty exhausted from being out
in the cold all day.
They go to bed before 10 p.m.,the lights out.
Um, but after that we lock thedoors, but anybody is still
welcome to come in after thosehours.
So we always have um at leastone or two people that are awake
(01:41):
the whole time just to make surethat we're able to receive.
SPEAKER_01 (01:44):
Being awake is a key factor there, isn't it?
SPEAKER_00 (01:47):
Yes, it is.
Um, part of the things that wedo need is volunteers.
So we have time slots forvolunteers that helps people
stay awake so that somebodydoesn't have to stay awake the
full hour from 7 p.m.
to 8 a.m.
So we do two to three hourshifts of volunteers.
Um GMCF has been so uh graciousto give us a grant this year so
(02:11):
that we can actually hiresomebody to cover the very hard
hours of midnight to 8 a.m.,which is usually where I was
covering down before.
SPEAKER_01 (02:20):
Where are you located now?
SPEAKER_00 (02:22):
We are going to be located at the Douglas Center
School Annex.
So the old school is where we'regoing to be at, across from the
old breadbasket.
SPEAKER_01 (02:33):
That'll be convenient.
SPEAKER_00 (02:34):
It will be so convenient.
And we are opening here in acouple days on the 19th.
SPEAKER_01 (02:39):
Okay.
That's Wednesday.
SPEAKER_00 (02:41):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (02:43):
Gosh.
Yeah.
It's that time again.
What are some things that youneed?
SPEAKER_00 (02:47):
So, right now we are definitely in need of volunteers
as well as uh our everyday itemsthat we need to run the shelter
when it comes to sanitationitems, when it comes to snacks
and stuff like that.
Um, coffee, we provide justhygiene items, things that you
(03:10):
wouldn't think of until you'reactually there.
We have those items on ourwebsite and on our Facebook.
Our website is the center ofhope mhk.com.
You can find an Amazon wish listthere.
Bottles of water are alwaysneeded because they come in
Thursday, and they're gonna havemore than one bottle of water
(03:31):
when they come in as well.
SPEAKER_01 (03:33):
Okay.
All right.
We got a lot of information, alittle bit out of time.
Thank you for you're welcome.
SPEAKER_00 (03:39):
Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01 (03:39):
Angela Stoutenberg is her name.
Once again, that website, thecenter of hope mhk.com.
And now we're gonna shift gears.
Christina Nolte, hello there.
Hello.
It has been a year since we'veuh talked about this again.
SPEAKER_02 (03:54):
I know the years grow so quickly, don't they?
It is kind of crazy.
SPEAKER_01 (03:57):
Yeah, yeah.
So you got a lot of things thatare going on, and you know, here
during the holidays, you know,you and I have and just about
everybody else have lost someoneover the last year.
And here you have an opportunityon behalf of Good Shepherd Home
Care and Hospice to help honorsomeone that may, it may not
(04:21):
have been just in the last year,but whomever it may be.
And and they don't necessarilyhave to have been people that
have stayed with you.
SPEAKER_02 (04:28):
Absolutely.
We offer what we feel like is avery meaningful opportunity to
celebrate a loved one during theholiday season through our Light
of Life Memorial.
So a lot of people mightrecognize it if you see that
large poinsetta tree in theManhattan Town Center.
That's us.
Um, this has been a verylong-standing tradition memorial
event that we have here inManhattan.
(04:49):
We've been doing it since 1996.
And so it does offer anopportunity for people to
purchase a memorial ornament inmemory of a loved one.
Their name is then written onthat ornament and then hung to
shine throughout the holidayseason.
SPEAKER_01 (05:02):
Now you have still three different ornaments.
SPEAKER_02 (05:06):
We do.
Individuals can choose from aDove memorial ornament, a star,
or an angel.
And again, they choose theindividual they want to
memorialize, and their name iswritten on that ornament.
SPEAKER_01 (05:17):
Okay.
And you don't have to write thename down ourselves.
You got people with really goodpenmanship.
SPEAKER_02 (05:21):
We have people with beautiful penmanship.
Not myself, not me or you, Dave,but we've got great people who
come in and write all thosebeautiful memorial names.
And then really the most specialpart of the light of life is the
tree dedication ceremony.
We have that scheduled forTuesday, December 2nd at 6 p.m.
This year we're gonna be insidethe Dillard's entrance at the
(05:42):
Manhattan Town Center.
We've kind of been on theopposite side before, down by
the theater entrance.
So that'll be new for folks whojoin us every year, but head
toward the Dillard's wing.
Still gonna see that largepoinsetta tree.
And then that evening, ourchaplain will dedicate the
memorial trees.
All of the memorial names areread, and then individuals are
welcome to find their memorialornaments and then hang them on
(06:04):
the tree.
Or if they can't be present,then Good Shepherd staff and
board members members will hangit for them.
SPEAKER_01 (06:11):
And the reading of the names.
Yes.
That is uh that's a powerfulmoment, especially for a lot of
those that are more recent.
SPEAKER_02 (06:17):
It really is.
And and as you said, we've alllost people that we know,
friends or family, over the pastyear.
But having all of those namesread, we remember people who've
maybe been gone for five yearsor 10 years, and we get to kind
of honor and memorialize themall together.
And that really is specialbecause even if you're just
there for your name and to hearyour name and hang your
(06:39):
ornament, you get to hear peoplethat you know from the
community, maybe friends,neighbors, people you've gone to
church with.
And so it's just a great momentat the start of the holiday
season to really remember all ofthose that we've lost and just
kind of take the time to pauseand have that special ceremony.
SPEAKER_01 (06:57):
What kind of comments do you get from people
that come and and not just withthe reading of the names, you
know, the dedication andeverything, but but it's gotta
be just really heartening forsomeone to be able to put that
name up there on that tree.
SPEAKER_02 (07:15):
It is.
It's very heartwarming.
It's just again, it's it's abrief ceremony.
It doesn't take long.
It takes about 30 minutes intotal by the time we start and
and all the ornaments are hung,but it's just such a special
moment.
What I love about the light oflife is we'll have people join
us this year who are attendingfor the first time, you know,
who've just lost a loved onethis year.
(07:35):
And we have some people thatI've seen coming to that
ceremony every year for the lastdecade.
And so it's neat to kind of seethat that intermingling of
remembering your loved ones,people who are at all different
stages of loss.
And as you mentioned, they don'thave to have been served by Good
Shepherd.
So we have some families whocome and honor a loved one, and
(07:57):
they weren't ever familiesconnected to our care or our
support, but it's still great tosee us connecting with them
through this memorial.
SPEAKER_01 (08:05):
I would also think that you have an opportunity for
people to just give and maybenot necessarily an honor as
someone, but I mean, you are anonprofit.
There are always opportunities,not here just during the holiday
season, but throughout the yearto help support the work you do.
SPEAKER_02 (08:22):
Absolutely.
Um, we do have some businesseswho obviously support the Light
of Life Memorial as corporatesponsors.
So there's always that way tosupport this event.
But yes, not connected to theLight of Life as the local
nonprofit provider of hospice,palliative home health and home
care services.
We accept donations and supportthroughout the year at any time.
(08:43):
And all of those funds go towardour very proud tradition of
providing care to all,regardless of insurance status
or ability to pay.
SPEAKER_01 (08:51):
What are some of the challenges that you've faced
here in the last year or sosince we've had an opportunity
to visit?
SPEAKER_02 (08:59):
You know, the challenges that we face, I think
are very ongoing.
Just they relate a lot tocommunity where awareness and to
myths and misconceptions,particularly about hospice care.
Um, some people don't realizethere's a difference in hospice
provider.
We have people who connect withus and go, oh, I didn't know
there were other for-profits intown.
We didn't realize there was adifference between Good Shepherd
(09:21):
and other entities.
And so that's a big awarenessthat we always try to share.
And also just again, myths abouthospice care, who is eligible,
who can receive hospice care,how hospice care is paid for,
um, what the hospice house isand how that differs from other
uh facilities or care at home.
I just feel like the gap inawareness is probably our
(09:43):
biggest challenge that thatnever completely goes away.
You know, we just celebratedearlier this year our 15th
anniversary of opening doors tothe hospice house.
Is that crazy?
15 years.
I know.
15 years.
And over 2,000 clients have beencared for at the time.
SPEAKER_01 (09:59):
We haven't aged a day in the last 15 years.
What a great answer.
SPEAKER_02 (10:02):
So that's why I love coming to see you guys.
That's great answer.
Great answer.
Yeah.
But to me, I think, man, 15years and over 2,000 families
later.
And when we connect with someonewho goes, I had no idea this was
here, that still seems, youknow, strange to me that we
still have such a gap of justawareness in our community.
So I would say that's our numberone challenge, probably always
(10:24):
gonna be our number onechallenge is just getting out in
the community and making surepeople have the information.
Um, if you don't know whatresource resources are
available, you don't know who tocall to for care and support.
So that's always going to be oneof our main goals.
SPEAKER_01 (10:39):
What's it like at the Good Shepherd House here
during the holidays?
SPEAKER_02 (10:43):
You know, it's probably different than most
people might think.
I think a lot of people think itwould be a very somber place or
sad place.
But um, first of all, we havesome amazing volunteers who come
and decorate just like we wouldin our own home.
So right now it's fullydecorated for fall and for
Thanksgiving.
Um, we have volunteers whoprovide a full Thanksgiving meal
for all of our clients andfamilies who we'll be caring for
(11:05):
on Thanksgiving.
They do the same thing onChristmas and New Year's and
special holidays throughout theyear.
So um again, we're a veryhome-like environment, and and
that's a big goal of ours,whether it's during the holidays
or any time of year, is thatwe're still doing our part to
help create more memories andand create you give me every
(11:26):
time.
SPEAKER_01 (11:26):
Yeah, well, you know, it's it's you know, and I
I'm just gonna recall, you know,a few times that I've been in
there with some friends that uh,you know, in their last days and
uh how comfortable anenvironment it is.
You know, you have these roomswhich, you know, they're they're
not by any means stark.
They're just, you know, they'rethey're lovely.
They're very homey, they're verycomfortable.
(11:47):
The chairs are nice andcomfortable.
And so you get to be able tojust pull right up and have a um
a warm and meaningfulconversation with those
individuals.
And uh I just think it's one ofthe greatest gifts that you can
give, you know, an organizationthat does that.
And I know that you have a lotof volunteers.
And and you and you you do havetremendous amount of staff also
(12:11):
that help support all this.
And it's uh that's a that's aall hands-on-deck effort, isn't
it?
SPEAKER_02 (12:17):
It is.
We have a tremendous group ofvolunteers, uh, 85 plus
volunteers who do everythinglike I just mentioned, from
decorating the hospice house tobaking cookies and baking meals
to people who sit and providecompanionship or even
transportation to medicalappointments.
And and those special volunteersin combination with our trained
(12:37):
staff, dedicated professionalswho can really provide expert
pain and symptom management atthe end of life and really
provide um valuable educationand support to families.
You know, you mentioned sittingin a comfortable chair and
spending time.
The the what I think thing is sospecial about the hospice house
is it's designed equally for thefriends and family of the
(13:01):
clients that we serve as for theclients themselves.
And it really is about providingthat time to be together and
connect together.
Um, and again, it it is aboutthe memories of those who live
on.
SPEAKER_01 (13:11):
Yeah.
And I know one of the most umwonderful things you do for
those that have served, that uhyou have a special ceremony, a
pending ceremony that is very,very rewarding, not just for
that individual, but for theirfamilies.
And and I'm certain to a certaindegree that uh it means a lot to
your staff and those volunteers.
SPEAKER_02 (13:33):
Yes, those are called our We Honor Veterans
ceremonies.
So we are a proud partner of theNational We Honor Veterans
Program, something that's acollaboration of the National
Hospice Organization and theDepartment of the VA, in which
our our hospice staff arespecially trained to honor
veterans at the end of life, butalso recognize unique needs of
veterans at the end of life.
(13:54):
So part of that program is to beable to conduct and host uh We
Honor Veterans pinningceremonies, in which we have
veterans in the community whoare trained to go and conduct
these ceremonies.
And they really do serve as justkind of a final salute of
appreciation and recognition,and they're beautiful
ceremonies.
Um, again, not only for theclient, for the veteran, but for
(14:17):
their friends and family to getto participate in that and and
witness that.
And absolutely for our staff, Ihave been fortunate to get to be
present at dozens of those, andthey are just beautiful.
SPEAKER_01 (14:28):
Yeah.
So let's get back to the tree.
That's it.
Manhattan Towns are going to bein the Dillard's wing this time.
SPEAKER_02 (14:36):
Yep.
That'll be the only differencethat we're all kind of not used
to.
So just head in oppositedirection in the mall.
But you'll see that largepoinsetta tree, and around those
will be the smaller light oflife trees that'll have two dev
trees, one star tree, and oneangel tree.
And after our dedicationceremony on Thursday, December
2nd at 6 p.m., they will befully decorated with all of our
(14:57):
memorial ornaments.
SPEAKER_01 (14:58):
That's one of the warm, wonderful things that we
have in this community.
Thank you for doing that.
And thanks for all the work thatyou and your staff and all those
volunteers do to help make thoselast days of someone special
even better.
SPEAKER_02 (15:09):
Thank you.
Well, we appreciate theopportunity to share a little
bit about it and alwaysencourage people just to reach
out or a phone call away or headto our website if you do want to
learn more about hospice quickcare or if you just have general
questions about the what-ifs oror whatnots.
And so always available as aresource for the community.
SPEAKER_01 (15:28):
You reminded me that, you know, here I am in
this new studio and and I needto get a box of Kleenexes in
here.
So I know my visits are alwayspopular.
We'll name that the Christinabox.
SPEAKER_02 (15:38):
There you go.
I'll proudly take that.
I'll proudly take that label.
SPEAKER_01 (15:42):
She's Christina Nolte with Good Shepherd Home
Care and Hospice and AngelaStautenberg.
Thanks again for uh sneaking inhere and talking more about the
the work that you do at Centerof Hope.
SPEAKER_00 (15:54):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (15:54):
You bet.
When we come back, Jane is goingto be back in.
She's uh taking off her dancingshoes, and we're going to talk
about some of the things thatare happening in the community.
And we got a lot of things asit's uh you know approaching
holiday season.
This is the GMCF Community Hour.
You can always find out moreabout the work that we do at the
Greater Manhattan CommunityFoundation on our website,
(16:15):
mcfks.org.
Philanthropy today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode, we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour, asheard on news radio KMAN.
We return with the GMCFCommunity Hour.
And guess what?
We have two guests in the studionow.
And uh we're gonna make this uhpretty quick work.
(00:20):
Angela Stoutenberg is in.
Thanks for for joining us herethis morning.
It's always a delight to haveyou here.
SPEAKER_00 (00:26):
It's good to see you again, Dave.
SPEAKER_01 (00:28):
Yes, you are with Center of Hope Ministries, and
uh we're gonna talk real quicklyabout what you do and what we
can do to help you.
SPEAKER_00 (00:35):
Yes, so we are the local warming shelter here in
town.
We're a drop-in shelter.
So that makes us a little bitdifferent than the emergency
shelter.
Um we do co-counsel with BeAblebecause we see the same homeless
people as well as other familiesand stuff like that.
So anybody and everybody iswelcome because we are a private
(00:56):
organization.
We don't have any rules orregulations and we don't have to
turn anybody away.
So um during the hours of 7 p.m.
to 8 a.m.
every day, we are open andanybody and everybody can get
out of the cold and come in.
Um, we have snacks for them, amovie play-in games for them.
(01:17):
At about 10 p.m., we do lightsout.
And um, usually everybody ispretty exhausted from being out
in the cold all day.
They go to bed before 10 p.m.,the lights out.
Um, but after that we lock thedoors, but anybody is still
welcome to come in after thosehours.
So we always have um at leastone or two people that are awake
(01:41):
the whole time just to make surethat we're able to receive.
SPEAKER_01 (01:44):
Being awake is a key factor there, isn't it?
SPEAKER_00 (01:47):
Yes, it is.
Um, part of the things that wedo need is volunteers.
So we have time slots forvolunteers that helps people
stay awake so that somebodydoesn't have to stay awake the
full hour from 7 p.m.
to 8 a.m.
So we do two to three hourshifts of volunteers.
Um GMCF has been so uh graciousto give us a grant this year so
(02:11):
that we can actually hiresomebody to cover the very hard
hours of midnight to 8 a.m.,which is usually where I was
covering down before.
SPEAKER_01 (02:20):
Where are you located now?
SPEAKER_00 (02:22):
We are going to be located at the Douglas Center
School Annex.
So the old school is where we'regoing to be at, across from the
old breadbasket.
SPEAKER_01 (02:33):
That'll be convenient.
SPEAKER_00 (02:34):
It will be so convenient.
And we are opening here in acouple days on the 19th.
SPEAKER_01 (02:39):
Okay.
That's Wednesday.
SPEAKER_00 (02:41):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (02:43):
Gosh.
Yeah.
It's that time again.
What are some things that youneed?
SPEAKER_00 (02:47):
So, right now we are definitely in need of volunteers
as well as uh our everyday itemsthat we need to run the shelter
when it comes to sanitationitems, when it comes to snacks
and stuff like that.
Um, coffee, we provide justhygiene items, things that you
(03:10):
wouldn't think of until you'reactually there.
We have those items on ourwebsite and on our Facebook.
Our website is the center ofhope mhk.com.
You can find an Amazon wish listthere.
Bottles of water are alwaysneeded because they come in
Thursday, and they're gonna havemore than one bottle of water
(03:31):
when they come in as well.
SPEAKER_01 (03:33):
Okay.
All right.
We got a lot of information, alittle bit out of time.
Thank you for you're welcome.
SPEAKER_00 (03:39):
Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01 (03:39):
Angela Stoutenberg is her name.
Once again, that website, thecenter of hope mhk.com.
And now we're gonna shift gears.
Christina Nolte, hello there.
Hello.
It has been a year since we'veuh talked about this again.
SPEAKER_02 (03:54):
I know the years grow so quickly, don't they?
It is kind of crazy.
SPEAKER_01 (03:57):
Yeah, yeah.
So you got a lot of things thatare going on, and you know, here
during the holidays, you know,you and I have and just about
everybody else have lost someoneover the last year.
And here you have an opportunityon behalf of Good Shepherd Home
Care and Hospice to help honorsomeone that may, it may not
(04:21):
have been just in the last year,but whomever it may be.
And and they don't necessarilyhave to have been people that
have stayed with you.
SPEAKER_02 (04:28):
Absolutely.
We offer what we feel like is avery meaningful opportunity to
celebrate a loved one during theholiday season through our Light
of Life Memorial.
So a lot of people mightrecognize it if you see that
large poinsetta tree in theManhattan Town Center.
That's us.
Um, this has been a verylong-standing tradition memorial
event that we have here inManhattan.
(04:49):
We've been doing it since 1996.
And so it does offer anopportunity for people to
purchase a memorial ornament inmemory of a loved one.
Their name is then written onthat ornament and then hung to
shine throughout the holidayseason.
SPEAKER_01 (05:02):
Now you have still three different ornaments.
SPEAKER_02 (05:06):
We do.
Individuals can choose from aDove memorial ornament, a star,
or an angel.
And again, they choose theindividual they want to
memorialize, and their name iswritten on that ornament.
SPEAKER_01 (05:17):
Okay.
And you don't have to write thename down ourselves.
You got people with really goodpenmanship.
SPEAKER_02 (05:21):
We have people with beautiful penmanship.
Not myself, not me or you, Dave,but we've got great people who
come in and write all thosebeautiful memorial names.
And then really the most specialpart of the light of life is the
tree dedication ceremony.
We have that scheduled forTuesday, December 2nd at 6 p.m.
This year we're gonna be insidethe Dillard's entrance at the
(05:42):
Manhattan Town Center.
We've kind of been on theopposite side before, down by
the theater entrance.
So that'll be new for folks whojoin us every year, but head
toward the Dillard's wing.
Still gonna see that largepoinsetta tree.
And then that evening, ourchaplain will dedicate the
memorial trees.
All of the memorial names areread, and then individuals are
welcome to find their memorialornaments and then hang them on
(06:04):
the tree.
Or if they can't be present,then Good Shepherd staff and
board members members will hangit for them.
SPEAKER_01 (06:11):
And the reading of the names.
Yes.
That is uh that's a powerfulmoment, especially for a lot of
those that are more recent.
SPEAKER_02 (06:17):
It really is.
And and as you said, we've alllost people that we know,
friends or family, over the pastyear.
But having all of those namesread, we remember people who've
maybe been gone for five yearsor 10 years, and we get to kind
of honor and memorialize themall together.
And that really is specialbecause even if you're just
there for your name and to hearyour name and hang your
(06:39):
ornament, you get to hear peoplethat you know from the
community, maybe friends,neighbors, people you've gone to
church with.
And so it's just a great momentat the start of the holiday
season to really remember all ofthose that we've lost and just
kind of take the time to pauseand have that special ceremony.
SPEAKER_01 (06:57):
What kind of comments do you get from people
that come and and not just withthe reading of the names, you
know, the dedication andeverything, but but it's gotta
be just really heartening forsomeone to be able to put that
name up there on that tree.
SPEAKER_02 (07:15):
It is.
It's very heartwarming.
It's just again, it's it's abrief ceremony.
It doesn't take long.
It takes about 30 minutes intotal by the time we start and
and all the ornaments are hung,but it's just such a special
moment.
What I love about the light oflife is we'll have people join
us this year who are attendingfor the first time, you know,
who've just lost a loved onethis year.
(07:35):
And we have some people thatI've seen coming to that
ceremony every year for the lastdecade.
And so it's neat to kind of seethat that intermingling of
remembering your loved ones,people who are at all different
stages of loss.
And as you mentioned, they don'thave to have been served by Good
Shepherd.
So we have some families whocome and honor a loved one, and
(07:57):
they weren't ever familiesconnected to our care or our
support, but it's still great tosee us connecting with them
through this memorial.
SPEAKER_01 (08:05):
I would also think that you have an opportunity for
people to just give and maybenot necessarily an honor as
someone, but I mean, you are anonprofit.
There are always opportunities,not here just during the holiday
season, but throughout the yearto help support the work you do.
SPEAKER_02 (08:22):
Absolutely.
Um, we do have some businesseswho obviously support the Light
of Life Memorial as corporatesponsors.
So there's always that way tosupport this event.
But yes, not connected to theLight of Life as the local
nonprofit provider of hospice,palliative home health and home
care services.
We accept donations and supportthroughout the year at any time.
(08:43):
And all of those funds go towardour very proud tradition of
providing care to all,regardless of insurance status
or ability to pay.
SPEAKER_01 (08:51):
What are some of the challenges that you've faced
here in the last year or sosince we've had an opportunity
to visit?
SPEAKER_02 (08:59):
You know, the challenges that we face, I think
are very ongoing.
Just they relate a lot tocommunity where awareness and to
myths and misconceptions,particularly about hospice care.
Um, some people don't realizethere's a difference in hospice
provider.
We have people who connect withus and go, oh, I didn't know
there were other for-profits intown.
We didn't realize there was adifference between Good Shepherd
(09:21):
and other entities.
And so that's a big awarenessthat we always try to share.
And also just again, myths abouthospice care, who is eligible,
who can receive hospice care,how hospice care is paid for,
um, what the hospice house isand how that differs from other
uh facilities or care at home.
I just feel like the gap inawareness is probably our
(09:43):
biggest challenge that thatnever completely goes away.
You know, we just celebratedearlier this year our 15th
anniversary of opening doors tothe hospice house.
Is that crazy?
15 years.
I know.
15 years.
And over 2,000 clients have beencared for at the time.
SPEAKER_01 (09:59):
We haven't aged a day in the last 15 years.
What a great answer.
SPEAKER_02 (10:02):
So that's why I love coming to see you guys.
That's great answer.
Great answer.
Yeah.
But to me, I think, man, 15years and over 2,000 families
later.
And when we connect with someonewho goes, I had no idea this was
here, that still seems, youknow, strange to me that we
still have such a gap of justawareness in our community.
So I would say that's our numberone challenge, probably always
(10:24):
gonna be our number onechallenge is just getting out in
the community and making surepeople have the information.
Um, if you don't know whatresource resources are
available, you don't know who tocall to for care and support.
So that's always going to be oneof our main goals.
SPEAKER_01 (10:39):
What's it like at the Good Shepherd House here
during the holidays?
SPEAKER_02 (10:43):
You know, it's probably different than most
people might think.
I think a lot of people think itwould be a very somber place or
sad place.
But um, first of all, we havesome amazing volunteers who come
and decorate just like we wouldin our own home.
So right now it's fullydecorated for fall and for
Thanksgiving.
Um, we have volunteers whoprovide a full Thanksgiving meal
for all of our clients andfamilies who we'll be caring for
(11:05):
on Thanksgiving.
They do the same thing onChristmas and New Year's and
special holidays throughout theyear.
So um again, we're a veryhome-like environment, and and
that's a big goal of ours,whether it's during the holidays
or any time of year, is thatwe're still doing our part to
help create more memories andand create you give me every
(11:26):
time.
SPEAKER_01 (11:26):
Yeah, well, you know, it's it's you know, and I
I'm just gonna recall, you know,a few times that I've been in
there with some friends that uh,you know, in their last days and
uh how comfortable anenvironment it is.
You know, you have these roomswhich, you know, they're they're
not by any means stark.
They're just, you know, they'rethey're lovely.
They're very homey, they're verycomfortable.
(11:47):
The chairs are nice andcomfortable.
And so you get to be able tojust pull right up and have a um
a warm and meaningfulconversation with those
individuals.
And uh I just think it's one ofthe greatest gifts that you can
give, you know, an organizationthat does that.
And I know that you have a lotof volunteers.
And and you and you you do havetremendous amount of staff also
(12:11):
that help support all this.
And it's uh that's a that's aall hands-on-deck effort, isn't
it?
SPEAKER_02 (12:17):
It is.
We have a tremendous group ofvolunteers, uh, 85 plus
volunteers who do everythinglike I just mentioned, from
decorating the hospice house tobaking cookies and baking meals
to people who sit and providecompanionship or even
transportation to medicalappointments.
And and those special volunteersin combination with our trained
(12:37):
staff, dedicated professionalswho can really provide expert
pain and symptom management atthe end of life and really
provide um valuable educationand support to families.
You know, you mentioned sittingin a comfortable chair and
spending time.
The the what I think thing is sospecial about the hospice house
is it's designed equally for thefriends and family of the
(13:01):
clients that we serve as for theclients themselves.
And it really is about providingthat time to be together and
connect together.
Um, and again, it it is aboutthe memories of those who live
on.
SPEAKER_01 (13:11):
Yeah.
And I know one of the most umwonderful things you do for
those that have served, that uhyou have a special ceremony, a
pending ceremony that is very,very rewarding, not just for
that individual, but for theirfamilies.
And and I'm certain to a certaindegree that uh it means a lot to
your staff and those volunteers.
SPEAKER_02 (13:33):
Yes, those are called our We Honor Veterans
ceremonies.
So we are a proud partner of theNational We Honor Veterans
Program, something that's acollaboration of the National
Hospice Organization and theDepartment of the VA, in which
our our hospice staff arespecially trained to honor
veterans at the end of life, butalso recognize unique needs of
veterans at the end of life.
(13:54):
So part of that program is to beable to conduct and host uh We
Honor Veterans pinningceremonies, in which we have
veterans in the community whoare trained to go and conduct
these ceremonies.
And they really do serve as justkind of a final salute of
appreciation and recognition,and they're beautiful
ceremonies.
Um, again, not only for theclient, for the veteran, but for
(14:17):
their friends and family to getto participate in that and and
witness that.
And absolutely for our staff, Ihave been fortunate to get to be
present at dozens of those, andthey are just beautiful.
SPEAKER_01 (14:28):
Yeah.
So let's get back to the tree.
That's it.
Manhattan Towns are going to bein the Dillard's wing this time.
SPEAKER_02 (14:36):
Yep.
That'll be the only differencethat we're all kind of not used
to.
So just head in oppositedirection in the mall.
But you'll see that largepoinsetta tree, and around those
will be the smaller light oflife trees that'll have two dev
trees, one star tree, and oneangel tree.
And after our dedicationceremony on Thursday, December
2nd at 6 p.m., they will befully decorated with all of our
(14:57):
memorial ornaments.
SPEAKER_01 (14:58):
That's one of the warm, wonderful things that we
have in this community.
Thank you for doing that.
And thanks for all the work thatyou and your staff and all those
volunteers do to help make thoselast days of someone special
even better.
SPEAKER_02 (15:09):
Thank you.
Well, we appreciate theopportunity to share a little
bit about it and alwaysencourage people just to reach
out or a phone call away or headto our website if you do want to
learn more about hospice quickcare or if you just have general
questions about the what-ifs oror whatnots.
And so always available as aresource for the community.
SPEAKER_01 (15:28):
You reminded me that, you know, here I am in
this new studio and and I needto get a box of Kleenexes in
here.
So I know my visits are alwayspopular.
We'll name that the Christinabox.
SPEAKER_02 (15:38):
There you go.
I'll proudly take that.
I'll proudly take that label.
SPEAKER_01 (15:42):
She's Christina Nolte with Good Shepherd Home
Care and Hospice and AngelaStautenberg.
Thanks again for uh sneaking inhere and talking more about the
the work that you do at Centerof Hope.
SPEAKER_00 (15:54):
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (15:54):
You bet.
When we come back, Jane is goingto be back in.
She's uh taking off her dancingshoes, and we're going to talk
about some of the things thatare happening in the community.
And we got a lot of things asit's uh you know approaching
holiday season.
This is the GMCF Community Hour.
You can always find out moreabout the work that we do at the
Greater Manhattan CommunityFoundation on our website,
(16:15):
mcfks.org.
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