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October 2009
In This Issue
Residents' Rooms Get a Make-Over
Poker Run Raises $5000 for Hillside House
Dinner for Four
Hillside House Launches First Online Campaign
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Residents' Rooms Get a Make-Over

Armchair Resident bedrooms and living spaces are getting a much-needed make-over.  New nightstands have replaced worn-out models.  New flat-screen televisions are being mounted on extendable wall brackets where they are not taking up valuable shelf space, are out of the way when not in use, and can be more comfortably viewed from bed.  And, where previously residents only had a single shelf over the head of the bed for personal items, they will now share six shelves between two beds, giving them more total space and easier accessibility.
 
The living and dining areas are also being upgraded with new chairs in the dining room and activity room for residents who do not use wheelchairs, and new sofas, loveseats and arm chairs for the resident lounge.  Such changes contribute to the quality of life, comfort, safety and feeling of home that we work hard to cultivate at Hillside House. We are grateful for donations to the Wish List fund by Assistance League and to the generosity of all those involved in the Poker Run that are helping to make these improvements possible.  The new furniture is scheduled for arrival on October 29.
 

Poker Run Raises $5000 for Hillside House
 
Frank and Greg Pete and Cindy Ortiz have a son with cerebral palsy, and Cindy's sister Julie works at Hillside House.  When they received a letter from us this summer, they felt moved to help out.  With the Santa Barbara Motorcycle Club, they organized a Poker Run and Barbeque to benefit Hillside House. 
 
Sponsored through the generosity of the Santa Ynez Band of the Chumash Indians, the event was a great success and a lot of fun and introduced Hillside House to a whole new group of friends. More than 150 people participated, and $5,000 was raised to help refurbish the bedrooms of the residents who live at Hillside House.
 
The Poker Run was held on Sunday, August 30, starting at Hillside House with a scenic ride and ending back here with a barbeque. The residents came out to enjoy the proceedings. Thank you to all the kind folks who came out to participate and special thanks to the organizers and sponsors. We are grateful to count you among our friends.  

Saying Goodbyeescrip 3ways

Resident Carol Nelmark passed away on September 29.  Carol was 55 years old and had lived with us for fifteen years.  A beautiful memorial service was held at Hillside House, during which residents expressed their love and appreciation for Carol, and their grief, in the most heartfelt and moving ways.  Residents who normally barely speak found powerful words to say, and deep feelings of appreciation and loss filled the room. 
 
A staff member from the Alpha day program told a wonderful story of bending over to adjust the footrest on Carol's wheelchair and then finding himself lying on the ground after Carol pushed him over with her foot and a huge grin!  We miss Carol.
 
We also miss Katie Della who moved away this past month in order to be closer to her family.  We wish her all the best.

Lynne's signDinner for Four

Hillside House's new Dinner for Four program gives 4 residents each Friday night an experience of fine dining at Hillside House, complete with candlelight and linen tablecloths.  Residents are enjoying the lovely ambiance, the delicious food and the opportunity for a new shared experience together.

What makes life at Hillside House so remarkable and special are the honest expressions of love and caring and appreciation for life that come from the residents daily.  Last Friday, Greg and Tom decided to have their candlelit dinner in Lynne's room to keep her company.  Lynne's health is failing, and she is no longer able to leave her bed, but Greg and Tom felt that was no reason for her to be left out. Tom also made a beautiful poster for Lynne's room to honor her. 



Hillside House Launches First Online Campaign
 
Annual FundUsing a new online service called givezooks! Hillside House has created a web page that tracks the progress of our Annual Fund campaign and accepts donations online.  The page includes a colorful slideshow of residents at Hillside House and includes information about how Annual Fund dollars are spent.
 
Givezooks! also allows our friends to create their own online, grassroots fundraisers.  You can now create your own page to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or other milestone-or for any reason!-and email your friends to contribute on your behalf to Hillside House.
 
We still need to raise $78,000 by December 31 to cover our basic expenses.  To visit our Annual Fund page, click on:
http://hillside-house.givezooks.com/campaigns/annual-fund-2

1235 Veronica Springs Rd.
Santa Barbara, California 93105
(805) 687-0788
www.hillsidehousesb.org