UPS & DOWNS July - August, 2001

WAYFARERS' HOUSE

WELCOME to new residents Nancy; Belva and Jason; Cynthia; Geanie; Xiomara, Xiomara, Jr., and Xharda; Tracy and Elizabeth; Araina, Xandria and Xaviar; and Cathy.

FAREWELL and good wishes to Dawn and Kiri; Veronica; Danita and Tajaona; Kathy; Lora; Jessie; Shannon, Charlie, Kimberly and Ashley; Linda, Louisa; Debbie; Connie; and Pam.

HAPPY JULY BIRTHDAYS to Debbie and Nancy and
to Lisa, Cathy and Belva for their AUGUSY BIRTHDAYS.

Work Groups who came to Meeting Ground during July and August to lend their energy and enthusiasm to projects that improve our facilities and to grow in relationship with our community were from First Presbyterian Church, Flourtown, PA; Federated Church, Sturbridge, MA; First Church of Christ, Sandwich, MA; First Presbyterian, Southold, NY; Parsippany Presbyterian, Parsippany, NJ; and Overbrook Presbyterian, Philadelphia, PA.

Good-byes often make us sad, and as summer ends and these farewells take place they are coupled with much gratitude for the hard work of our full-time volunteers. Our thanks to Barbara and Al Ammon, Ortencia Orellano, Don Vermilyea, and Ulla Heelein. Our thanks, too, to all those laborers - residents and workers living in the area - who continue working at Meeting Ground, especially those who make it possible for full-timers to wedge in vacations during the busy summer program.

Gloria Simonson, M.D., is the new physician attending Meeting Ground residents of Wayfarers' House, Clairvaux Farm, and George Porter House. Her office is at 111 High Street; phone: 410-620-7346.

Meeting Ground needs:
Paper goods: toilet tissue, napkins and towels
Assorted canned food, fruit, tuna
Laundry detergent and bleach
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Coffee and sugar
Freezer storage bags (1 gal. size)
Over the counter pain relievers, Cough/cold medicine, antiseptics, antacids
Sheets, pillows, blankets
A carpet shampoo machine
Volunteers are needed for day and night monitoring at Wayfarers' House.
Contact Marsha at 410-398-4381 or wayfarer@meetingground.org

Shemiah Goodyear of Wayfarers' House, who recently suffered a bee sting, the effect of which landed her in the emergency room of Union Hospital, brought home with here a brochure from the University of Maryland which she found in the waiting room. It is entitled BITES AND STINGS, and includes advice fro avoiding as well as treating bites by snakes, spiders, ticks, bees, wasps and hornets, jellyfish and other animal bites.

We quote here the following excerpts:
Bee, wasp, and hornet stings: Remove stinger by scraping a card across the wound (DO NOT SQUEEZE). Wash area with soapy water. Apply a cold compress to control swelling. Take analgesics for pain and an antihistamine as needed for minor itching and swelling. Prevention: When working outside, avoid bright colored or floral print clothing and perfume. Try to wear shoes, a hat and gloves. If the patient has had an allergic reaction to stings, severe swelling, difficulty breathing, feels faint or has multiple bee or wasp stings, seek medical care immediately.
Ticks: Bites from ticks found in Maryland may result in Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or Lyme Disease. The symptoms of both begin a few days to a few weeks following the tick bite and include headache, chills, fever and a rash.
First Aid: Remove tick by using blunt tweezers or covered fingers. Grasp the tick close to the skin and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Check to see that the entire tick has been removed. Clean the area with antiseptic. If symptoms develop, contact a doctor immediately.
Prevention: Avoid heavily wooded areas or wear close-fitting clothing in these places and perform a carful "head to toe" examination after frequenting such areas. Remember to examine pets too.

Friends of the Earth is and article in the Church of the Brethren's Messenger, March 2001. The article by David Radcliff focuses on what one person can do for a trouble planet, where the effects of what humans do on the earth is endangering the planet by driving plant and animal species to extinction, depleting the ozone layer, demolishing forests and threatening our own health. Although our country has only "5 percent of the world's people, we are responsible for 30 percent of humankind's consumption and pollution." The author recommends we "not overlook the steps each of us can take to lessen our impact and restore what has been damaged, "such as driving our cars less and recycling more." In a section of the same article Meeting Ground's Don Vermilyea advises simply,DO WITH LESS, something he has practiced daily years.

Once a month members of Meeting Ground's HOPE Program meet to plan and place a food order with the Food Bank of Delaware. In an article by Barbara Dugan in the July-August 2001 Loaves and Fishes, we learned that Meeting Ground's HOPE Program is part of a network of food distribution clubs run out of the Food Bank. It was funded initially by the Cecil County HELP Center and is now maintained altogether by member donations. The program helps supplement the food budgets of thirty families, including former and current members of Meeting Ground as well as families in the community.
On the designated day the food order is picked up in Delaware, sorted and distributed. When the food arrives at the George Porter House, "members come to unpack and break down the cases of food into individual family boxes and bags. Then over the next few hours other members drift in to pick up their food and to deliver food to those who can't get out to pick it up. It's a great time of community as the members work together to get the job done and to help each other ..."