Alternative gift market
Ben Word Sims, a member of my Sunday school class, models the shawl and some of the scarves I had for sale at my church's alternative gift market.
My church held its annual alternative gift market Sunday, featuring handmade items and gifts of nails and tools and kitchen sinks for Habitat for Humanity, fair-trade items from developing countries and art.
I brought a shawl, several scarves and earrings, Life o’ Mike T-shirts and car magnets. We made over $200, and the Christian Action Committee will donate a portion of the proceeds to Life o’ Mike.
Danny and I were talking last night about what a difference having a church community makes. He started going regularly a couple of months ago, and he says he can’t believe the help that’s there for all his struggles.
Since Mike died, he has thought of the unfairness of it and the bitterness has eaten away at him. But now he sees the blessings of Mike’s life and has decided to be more like Mike in a lot of ways.
Mike was generous — on holidays he cooked extravagant dinners for people who had nowhere else to go, even though he really couldn’t afford it. That’s one of the reasons we raised money with a dinner. Mike loved getting together with his friends and enjoying a meal. When Mike died, his friends offered a meal for all of us who loved him.
Mike had the ability to move on from bad things and not be consumed by anger or bitterness. He could laugh at the worst things.
Danny was awed by all that, and he wants “to be a better man,” in memory of Mike and for his wife and kids.
The work we do, we do in memory of Mike because Mike’s memory and his generous spirit need to live on.
And when Ben picked up the shawl and three scarves to model, it just looked like a shadow of Mike standing there in front of me.
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a peer support program for people with one or more serious or chronic medical issues or disabilities.
We aim to reduce isolation and fear among people who have conditions, including psychiatric illness, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, mild dementia or other cognitive disorder or disability, thereby reducing depression and complications as people learn to improve self-management of their medical conditions.
Patient Pals help alleviate feelings of isolation and frustration. They can help people develop a list of questions to ask the doctor and then accompany the person to the doctor to make sure all the questions are answered, taking notes to be sure the person understands the doctor’s answers.
Our trained volunteers also accompany their “Pals” to art exhibits, movies and walks outdoors, meet for coffee, call to check in and more.
Our Pals have experienced weight loss, improvement in diabetes, HIV, psoriasis, depression and more, just because they have someone who cares about them. Some relationships develop into longer-term friendships; other Pals move on to more independent lives.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.
Post a comment