We are all concerned as the economy is experiencing unprecedented volatility. During such uncertain times, it is important to focus on what really matters. This includes how we function as a community, caring for our neighbors, especially those less fortunate.

We would like to recognize the following donors who contributed items or provided monetary support for live or silent auction items or gift balloons.

Mary Lou Kerr began volunteering at North Coast Health Ministry almost two years ago.  She came to the ministry at the recommendation of her daughter, a physician's assistant who had heard about the vital services NCHM provides to the medically underserved from the surgeons she works with.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and peace movement advocate Jane Addams once said, "The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life."  This sense of community or "common life" is what drives all of us at North Coast Health Ministry.  It is, I suspect, the driver for our many volunteers and supporters as well.  

North Coast Health Ministry board member David Coury was awarded the 2008 Ernst & Young Northeast Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Health Sciences and Environmental category.

David is the founder and president of Pharmacy Management Group (PMG), a Westlake-based provider of pharmaceutical care and support to nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.  Since its founding eight years ago, PMG has grown from a staff of 14 to over 140 professionals and has grown to cover all of Ohio and western Pennsylvania.

Under David’s leadership, North Coast Health Ministry was able to launch its Drug Repository Program, through which NCHM can accept unopened and unused drugs donated by nursing homes.  The program allows NCHM to store and dispense a set of life-saving prescription drugs that are difficult for many low-income patients to access due to their high cost.

The 2008 Celebration of Caring was the most successful in North Coast Health Ministry's history, with more than $65,000 raised.  Nearly 250 guests turned out to support the ministry and enjoy live and silent auctions, gift balloons, appetizers, drinks and dinner.  Raffle tickets were sold for a Cleveland Browns loge for 12, donated by Workflow.com, with the winning ticket drawn at the evening's end.

As we approach the gift-giving season, I have been reflecting upon the Gospel story of the widow's offering (Mark 12: 41-44). In the story, Christ is observing the wealthy making their offerings, when one impoverished widow enters the temple to make her contribution.  Compared to other gifts, it is an insignificant amount.  In Jesus' eyes, however, it is an offering beyond measure.  

We at North Coast Health Ministry have been blessed to witness that the widow's spirit lives on today.  In the midst of the most difficult economy since the Great Depression, many have responded to our Annual Appeal with the widow's same generosity of spirit.  We are extremely grateful for every gift we have received - the $25 gifts as well as the $500 gifts.  Every gift, of every size, is critical to our being able to continue offering health care to the low-income uninsured in our community.  Each gift is a plank on the bridge to better health that North Coast Health Ministry strives to be for those with no other route to health care.

As we at NCHM reflect on our blessings in this season of thanksgiving, we are grateful to witness the widow's spirit alive in our many supporters and our untiring volunteers.  We are grateful to witness the courage of our patients who often come to us at the most challenging times of their lives.  And we are grateful for the opportunity to be about Christ's work.

Sincerely,

Lee E. Elmore, Executive Director