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Landstuhl
Regional Medical Center (LRMC) Clinical Pastoral Division
provides support for the sick and wounded troops flown there
from combat operations. It has three programs that are in
jeopardy of being closed down due to lack of funds. There has
been a reduced level of donations with the economic slowdown
as well as a shift in support from overseas to stateside.
Their current operating budget will allow full operation
through the end of March. After that, LRMC will have to
reduce the scope of their programs until they completely run
out of funding, which would be approximately the end of June.
We need your help!
The three
programs affected are:
The Tuesday
and Thursday Outpatient Retreats
(LHCP CODE 10-RTT)
These began
in April 2004 to get the medical evacuees out of the hospital
and barracks for a day and to encourage them to talk about
their wartime experiences. This trip takes a group of 6-10
outpatients in a van to a city of historical interests within
1-2 hours of LRMC. The most common places to visit are the
cities of Landstuhl, Homberg, Speyer, Trier, Mainz, and the
Hinzer Concentration Camp.
The Tuesday
and Thursday retreats cost: $600 per event, $31,200 per year
each.
The Saturday
Outpatient Retreats (LHCP CODE 10-R)
These
retreats also began in April 2004 to get the medical evacuees
out of the hospital and barracks for a day and to encourage
them to talk about their wartime experiences. This trip takes
a group of 40-70 outpatients in a bus to a city of historical
interests within 1-2 hours of LRMC. The most common places to
visit are the cities of Heidelberg, the Rhine River (boat
tours), Trier, Mainz, Speyer, and the Hinzer Concentration
Camp.
The Saturday
retreats cost: $1,800 per event, $93,600 per year.
The Tuesday
to Thursday Combat and Operational Stress Reactions Dinners
(LHCP CODE 10-CSD)
The dinners
began in October 2006 to provide military outpatients with a
social dinner outside the hospital environment, and a closed
session opportunity for them to talk to a chaplain Behavioral
Health Counselors. Telling a soldier’s story is integral to
their healing process. Although these dinners are not therapy
they do help set the stage for later therapy programs by
encouraging Warriors to talk early and often about their
experiences.
The dinner’s
cost: $150 per event, 23,400 per year.
The medical
professionals at LRMC believe these programs are essential in
the military patient’s healing process. They are able to bond
with others who have gone through the same wartime
experiences, and they are able to talk about it with each
other in a non-threatening environment. The retreats and
dinners are also great stress reducers.
The total donations needed to keep these three programs
running is $179,400. Landstuhl Hospital Care Project is
trying to save them, but we need your help.
Please make
your check payable to Landstuhl Hospital Care Project. In the
memo line please use the LHCP code of the project you would
like to support. Mail your donation to our treasurer:
LHCP
Sharon
Buck
52
Seminole Trail
Fort
Mitchell, AL 36856
If you have any questions, please contact our president, Karen
Grimord at
lhcp.president@yahoo.com
or our vice president of communications, Maria Waddell at
lhcp.vpcom@yahoo.com.
Thank you for supporting our military who help keep our lives
free!
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