Hospitality House is a year-round emergency homeless shelter for the general homeless community in Nevada County, and since the onset of the pandemic, we’ve shifted into a 24/7 operation, working in partnership with multiple agencies around town in a collective effort to help as many people as possible in crisis.
I’m Danna and I’m the Medical Case Manager for Hospitality House. I connect our guests with medical services as well as handle their medical insurance needs. I also help guests who own animals to connect with our Pet Program, which provides full care for animals.
This month I’d like to touch on a client who, after some complications during the healing process, has made a full recovery from an invasive hand surgery. This client had come to us a few months ago after being in a serious car accident which required him to have surgery on his hand as it had been severely injured. The first surgery went well, and all seemed good as he started to heal over the next couple of weeks. About three weeks after the surgery the client, Richard, noticed the incision sight was swelling and looking irritated. Richard was seen to Western Sierra Medical Clinic who confirmed that it had become infected and suggested a round of antibiotics to rid him of the infection. This unfortunately did not rid him fully of the infection so it was determined that he would need a follow up with the surgeon. After being seen for the follow up he was immediately scheduled for a second surgery that following day to clean out the original incision. The second incision has been a complete success and Richard was able to have his stiches removed last week with no sign of a returning infection. Soon he will be starting physical therapy in order to regain mobility and strength while continuing to stay at the shelter so he can fully heal in a supportive environment. For more information about Hospitality House, please visit hhshelter.org.
Opportunity for impact! International Women’s Day (IWD) takes place each year on March 8 and to celebrate women who make a difference, donations to Hospitality House will be matched up to $5,000 by local businesswoman, Lauren Maddux, co-owner of TheEventHelper.com in Grass Valley. For over 100 years, IWD has celebrated the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women as well as equality for all women. Participating in the IWD challenge is an opportunity to help those who need it most. No dollar is too small to make a difference. A $1 donation will become $2 and $2 will feed a struggling couple for the day. With Maddux’s help, the community has a chance to double their impact together. Every dollar donated to Hospitality House will be matched up to $5,000. To help those in need, donations can be made online at www.hhshelter.org, or by mail at 1262 Sutton Way, Grass Valley, CA 95945. Write “IWD” or “Women’s Day” in the check memo. Donations will be doubled through March 8!
Hospitality House Honors Mikail Graham with a Community Service Award for his 15 years of dedication to Night of Giving, an annual musical benefit to help homeless individuals and families reach permanent housing, Mikail Graham was awarded a commemorative plaque from Hospitality House as a thank you for his many years of service. The award includes a framed handmade guitar comprised of punched copper as well as memorabilia from various events spanning the years that encapsulate the lasting impact of Night of Giving. For the 15th year, Night of Giving transitioned into a virtual affair, but as in traditional years, hundreds joined virtually from the safety of their home, raising over $60,000 for those without a home. After volunteering countless hours to the event and helping hundreds of people return to housing, Graham made the difficult decision to pass the torch onto the next generation. Night of Giving will return in December 2021 with new faces leading the charge, but Graham will always be very much part of the Night of Giving story—a story he had the heart to create.
Normally at this time we thank all the cook groups who came and cooked over the last week, but to keep our shelter safe, our cook groups are supporting our meals by donating financial support and food, and Chef Chris is safely cooking all meals instead. We’d like to thank Wolf Creek Commons Cohousing, Telestream, LLC, The Gourmet Squad, Sierra Pines UMC, Jazzercise, The Home Team and Crossroads Church for all their recent help. To everyone who donated our most needed items last week, thank you as well!
Now down to the nitty gritty needs of the shelter for this week…
• PPE masks and gloves (please keep donating these)
• New pillows
• Twin size blankets
• Bottled water
• Hand warmers
• Alka seltzer
• Travel bags/backpacks
• Headphones/earbuds
• Brushes/combs/hair ties
• Toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Men and Women’s winter gloves
• Men’s jeans, sizes 30-36
• 8 oz paper coffee cups (please no lids or Styrofoam/plastic cups)
• Women’s underwear, sizes S, M, and L (or 5,6,7 and 8)
• Men and Women’s sweatpants, sizes M, L, XL and 2XL
• Ensure/Boost drinks for a guest undergoing chemo and radiation treatments
• Plastic shower curtains and attachment rings for the Outreach Dorm’s bathroom shower)
Please drop off urgent items or mail them to Utah’s Place, located in Brunswick Basin, past the DMV, at 1262 Sutton Way in Grass Valley. For a tax receipt, please ring the doorbell and wait for someone to come outside to assist you. We greatly appreciate the community’s help at such times of uncertainty. In the words of Utah Phillips, “If we all stick together, we’ll get what we need.” Thank you!