Page 26 - Christiana Care Focus January 2018

EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE
Volunteers make annual holiday luncheon at St. Patrick’s Center a heartwarming success
At the holiday luncheon at St. Patrick’s Center, plates were piled high.
“I don’t always get to eat, so today I am eating a lot,” said Carolyn Lee, one of about 200 attendees.
St. Pat’s is on the impoverished East Side of Wilmington, where there is so little access to fresh food it is classified as a “food desert” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The people who live there
are at increased risk for obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension, and premature death.
simply come from the street into a wel- coming, respectful, caring environment.
“It is hard to navigate the system when you are poor and have medical problems, especially when you don’t have support from a family,” said Carmela Longobardi, MSW, a Christiana Care medical social worker embedded at St. Pat’s.
Howard Collins was homeless for three years and developed heart and respiratory problems. His social worker helped him to get housing through the Veterans Admin- istration. She also helped him to apply for
James M. Ellison, M.D., MPH, The Swank Foundation Endowed Chair in Memory Care and Geriatrics at Christiana Care, said the holidays are a stressful time of year for many people, especially those who face hardships.
“I am proud to be part of an organization that shows such compassion and care for those in need by helping to support St. Pat’s,” Dr. Ellison said.
The partnership at St. Pat's has helped some of the city's most vulnerable residents to make the best use of the
Volunteers Erma Pilson and Maura Hinckle, FNP-C, help to serve St. Patrick’s Senior Center member Miss Faye poses with 6-year-old
the annual holiday luncheon.
Five days a week, year-round, Christiana Care social workers embedded at St. Pat’s connect people who need help with hous- ing, transportation, financial assistance and medical and behavioral health care. And each year during the holiday sea-
son, doctors, nurses, social workers and retirees from Christiana Care volunteer to cook, serve and clean up after the annual luncheon that provides a special opportu- nity for fellowship and good cheer.
“The social workers from Christiana Care do more than social work,” said Joel Harris, executive director of St. Patrick's Center. “It’s more like social triage. They love what they do. They care about people so much. They are awesome.”
People seeking assistance don’t need a referral to talk to a social worker. They
Ethan Welling, the youngest volunteer at the luncheon.
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Medicaid, which covers the costs of his medications.
“I am healthier and able to work part time,” Collins said. “I also volunteer at St. Pat’s because I want to give back and help other people.”
Harris said that 27 homeless people were connected with housing during the first three weeks of December.
Matthew Burday, D.O., volunteering at the luncheon, said that compassion and good medical care go hand-in-hand.
“If people have not been vaccinated and live in unsanitary conditions, it is easy for disease to spread," Dr. Burday said. “This type of hands-on experience benefits
the doctors of today and can inspire the doctors of tomorrow."
resources available to them and take control of their health care needs. People at the center can get free blood-pressure screenings and flu shots. They can attend monthly lunch-and-learn sessions, where agencies come and present information on resources in the community. And they can connect with primary care providers so that they don’t need to rely on the emergency department for non-urgent needs.
People at St. Patrick's Center are building the foundation they need to transform their lives, one person at a time.
“It doesn’t work without partnerships,” Harris said. “Christiana Care helps us to meet people at their need and walk them through the steps they have to take to be successful.” ●