Caring House - California

New name tags for our newest volunteers! Thank you to all who have or do volunteer with Caring House. Want to bring your talents here? Wonderful! Please go to our website and click/tap Volunteer!
https://www.yourcaringhouse.org

On May 19, Caring House held our 8th annual Honor & Remember ceremony. Here is the text of the welcoming remarks, and various photos as well.

We are here for Honor and Remember. Two very important words,
Honor, and remember. Honor. The word means great respect, high
esteem. Cultures around the world honor their elders, honor their
ancestors, and place great value on their connection to them. We at
Caring House also wish to show and share our profound respect for
the persons and families who have ended their journey of life at
Caring House.

Caring House is exactly that, a house. A home. This means that every resident, every family that has stayed with us, has been a guest. In cultures worldwide, to have a guest is to be greatly honored. As such, we do everything we can to make our guests feel welcomed, their wishes fulfilled, and indeed, literally, we make them feel at home. Thus we pay the greatest respect and esteem for all who have honored us in sharing our home, and we are here to return that honor.

To remember is also a cultural aspect that spans the globe. From the ancient Egyptians to today, to say a loved one’s name is to know they are not gone, not forgotten. In a simpler sense, we take the time to remember people because we love them and we miss them. We remember who they were, their lives, the people they loved, their talents and achievements and joys and foibles. It brings us happiness in those memories even as it brings us grief. Hopefully, it helps assuage the grief a little. But we do it because in remembering, no one is ever truly gone. The Roman poet Ovid said, Omnia Mutantur, nihil interit. Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost.

Today we will read names of those who have honored us with their
presence at Caring House. They have departed, but they are still with us, in our hearts, and we will always honor and remember them. Thank you for joining us today.

Here is the link to the live Zoom feed of the upcoming Honor & Remember Ceremony.

This Sunday, May 19 at 3:00pm, Caring House will have our annual Honor & Remember Ceremony at the blue First Christian Church in Torrance (2930 El Dorado Blvd). We welcome all, and if you cannot attend, please use this link on that day and time to access the Zoom feed of the ceremony. Thank you!

us05web.zoom.us

Hello to all of our South Bay Community. Flash gift request! Caring House would like to put up a Christmas tree this holiday season, to brighten and enrich the House for all who enter here. Who might be able to bring us a tree, or request a discounted tree for Caring House as a 501(c)(3) non-profit? As an in-kind donation, you can claim it as a tax deduction. Please respond here if you can donate a tree to Caring House--and thank you so much!

One of the things that makes a true house are the baked goods we prepare and put out for our honored guests, along with coffee and snacks. Feel free to help yourself.

Volunteers are the rock we all stand on. In 2023 volunteers have given over 4,300 hours of their time to helping our mission of peace at the end. We are supremely grateful for their generosity. Thank you, volunteers, here and everywhere!

A Caring House - California story of why our mission is so important to us: we had a resident we will call Ms Belle. She was a lovely lady who was very tense and rigid, physically. Her fists were clenched and she kept her arms tightly across her body. We learned she had been through medical facility trauma in her past. Our director, Kay, sat with her and said, "You're safe here. No one will hurt you here." And Ms Belle slowly unclenched her fists and relaxed her arms. She stayed relaxed during her subsequent residency. Although she never opened her eyes her entire time at Caring House, she could hear us, and she trusted us. Peace at the end...that is our mission. Thank you for supporting us and this mission.

Home - Caring House We all deserve to experience peace at the end of life. Caring House is a non-profit, home-based setting completely focused on helping residents and their families through the end-of-life journey – the first and only one of its kind in Los Angeles County. Join us in creating better endings. Six pri...

This is the Caring House - California garden, a place of peace and contemplation. Residents and their families both enjoy this space, and it's part of what makes Caring House, a house.

Have you seen this look before? Caring House - California's own Charlie waits patiently for the chance to again grace the office with his esteemed presence. Do you have a fur baby? Tell us about them below!

Happy Monday to you! Our weekend was productive, and we spent part of it getting set up with Venmo and PayPal. Here are the QR codes for easy and secure giving to Caring House--tax deductible to the the fullest extent allowed by law. Give it a try, please! Simply use your phone's camera, scan, and voila! Help us continue our important mission of peace at the end with a small or large donation to Caring House. Don't have Venmo or PayPal? Go to our site, www.yourcaringhouse.org. Thank you!

Sunday, Sept 10, Caring House - California held their first annual BBQ By The Bay fundraiser at the King Harbor Yacht Club. It was a great success as we all joined together to support our mission of providing a loving home of care, compassion, support and diginity for both individuals who are at the end stage of life, as well as their families, so everyine can experience peace at the end of life.

We were honored and grateful to have so many wonderful, generous guests attend and donate via our silent auction as well as on-the-spot giving. Couldn't make it to the BBQ? Go to our website, www.yourcaringhouse.org, and make a donation today. Thank you!

We are so grateful to our sponsors for helping make our a success, while also ensuring more families in our community can experience .

In addition to Torrance Memorial Medical Staff - our presenting sponsor at the Admiral level - they include:

Captain:
Oakwood Wealth Partners

Lieutenants:
Compassionate Care Hospice, LLC.
Lighthouse Memorials & Receptions
Olson Duncan Insurance
Providence Little Company of Mary
Servatius, O’Brien & Fong, LLP
Torrance Refining Company

Officers:
1 Heart Hospice and Palliative Care
Age Well South Bay
Evergreen Home Health and Hospice Care
First Foundation Inc
Green Hills Mortuary
Malaga Bank
Peters & Love
Preferred Networking Solutions, Inc.
Ricardo’s Mobile Detail
Roze Room Hospice
Sigma Engineers
Soon Navidi, RN
South Bay Toyota
VITAS Healthcare

Meet Wendy Fisher, a who has lived here all her life, growing up surrounded by women and secretly wanting to become a lawyer so she could argue with people. It’s no surprise that her claim to fame later in life was being a “tough old broad,” often going against the expected flow.

We were honored to welcome a woman known as the cool and liberated mom, with a forward thinking, open mind, and a soft spot for her daughters. Wendy believed “what goes around comes around,” so she put kindness out into the world, and we were delighted to shower her with kindness in return at . You can help us Wendy when you read more about her at yourcaringhouse.org/meet-wendy-fisher.

This is your LAST CHANCE to join us at BBQ by the Bay presented by Torrance Memorial Medical Staff, so don't wait... tickets are $150 and available through Thursday, August 31 at midnight! Learn more and buy your tickets today at yourcaringhouse.org/bbq2023.

The event features a silent auction and other games of chance - all benefiting the residents and families of . Enjoy this preview of some of the items featured in the silent auction, and then get your tickets so you can bid on them at the event!

Original framed artwork by our own Penny Kastagir - “Peninsula Artists”

Original artwork by SoCal artist Jessie Zaylia, who has her art displayed in the United States Supreme Court - “Esplanade Sunset”

Two tickets for BeachLife Festival Ranch on Sunday, September 24 - featuring performances by Brad Paisley, Midland, Chris Isaak, Parmalee and more!

Zac McGraw Jersey signed by members of the Portland Timbers. Zac is the first ever West Point graduate appointed to MLS. He is a member of Canada's National Team, plays center back position for the Portland Timbers, is a South Bay local and an all around great guy.

Many know that we have a basket filled with natural heart-shaped stones in our living room. Family members of our residents choose a stone to represent their loved one and we write the resident’s name on the stone - one of the ways we our residents.

Two of our board members recently went on separate trips to Scotland, and both of them brought back some very special stones for our collection. Thank you Glenn and Ellen for not only thinking about us on your travels, but also bringing us these very special stones that will bring comfort to our families!

We’re always looking for natural heart-shaped rocks between 2 and 3 inches wide to add to this collection! When you’re out and about at the beach, the park or even in your own garden, please look for and collect them, and then drop them off at Caring House. Our staff and volunteers will be thrilled to add them to our collection.

This is your LAST CHANCE to get Early Bird tickets for BBQ by the Bay presented by Torrance Memorial Medical Staff… purchase your tickets for $125 per person before midnight tonight (August 24)!

After today, you can still get tickets for $150 per person - through next Friday, August 31 or until they sell out. We hope you’ll join us for a fun and casual afternoon of camaraderie and community support at King Harbor Yacht Club. The calm surroundings and breathtaking views await you!

Learn more and buy your tickets today at yourcaringhouse.org/bbq2023.

Caring House is very grateful and excited to announce that South Bay Toyota, Sigma Engineers (https://sigmaengineers.com), and Soon Navidi, RN have all joined us as Officer level ($500) sponsors of our annual BBQ By The Bay fundraiser, and that Lighthouse Memorials & Receptions - Rice Center has joined at Lieutenant Level ($1000)! We thank you so very much and are deeply grateful for the support you have for us and our community. Please check out and patronize our sponsors!

You can support us and join us at the event with a ticket purchase or Sponsorship! Go to https://www.yourcaringhouse.org/bbq2023/ to buy tickets and learn more. Early bird price tickets end on Thursday, Aug 24--get yours today!

BBQ by the Bay - Caring House You are cordially invited to join us for BBQ by the Bay presented by Torrance Memorial Medical Staff - A fundraiser benefiting the residents and families of Caring House - Sunday, September 10, 4pm, King Harbor Yacht Club, 280 Yacht Club Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 - Casual Attire | Cash Bar | Sile...

Don't miss your chance to get for BBQ by the Bay presented by Torrance Memorial Medical Staff… join us for $125 per person when you purchase your tickets by next Thursday, August 24!

Mailed reply cards must be postmarked by August 24. Tickets go up to $150 per person starting Friday, August 25 through August 31 - or until tickets sell out.

Space is limited, so don’t wait... join us for this fundraiser benefitting the residents and families of ! Learn more and buy your tickets today at yourcaringhouse.org/bbq2023.

If you’ve been to recently, you’ve probably noticed a new addition in our front entryway - a and the beautifully updated landscaping around it. This was a special project spearheaded by our Board of Directors, and last month, we hosted a small gathering to dedicate our new as a way to honor those who made Caring House possible.

Board Chair Robin Camrin and founding Board Member Dan Hudson delivered the dedication as the fountain trickled in the background. Robin began by acknowledging our volunteers, sharing that “Caring House would never have come into being without all the volunteers who began to develop what Caring House would become for the ."

Before unveiling the plaque dedicating the Peace Fountain "to all of the volunteers who created Caring House, led by Ed and Patty Long," Robin and Dan read a beautiful dedication. You can read that beautiful dedication and learn more at yourcaringhouse.org/peace-fountain-dedication.

This article is right. “The patchwork network of end-of-life care homes is far too limited to address the need.” That’s why we are so proud to be one of the nonprofits “trying to plug the gaps” by providing a place for members of our community to experience … because it is something that everyone deserves!

Read the full article at www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/unhoused-americans-have-few-places-to-turn-when-death-is-near.

We are proud to present a look back at 2022 in our Annual Report! In her intro letter, our Executive Director Kay Post shares:

“Caring House is life-changing. I have seen this over and over again as I’ve watched residents, families, staff, volunteers and other members of the community come through our doors. Something else I’ve come to learn after seeing it time and again is this: If someone is meant to be at Caring House, then it will happen. It’s true for our residents and families… and it’s true for me.

Caring House is a truly special place filled with special people and loving kindness. I consider myself fortunate that 2022 brought me here. I hope you enjoy a look back at some of the other lives we touched throughout 2022. After all, your support makes it possible to provide peace, compassion, support and dignity when it is needed most. The benefits of these gifts are truly beyond measure.”

You can flip through our Annual Report at yourcaringhouse.org/annual-report-2023.

The South Bay is filled with so many giving people, whether they’re supporting financially, sending supplies, gifting their time or sharing encouragement. The members of Sandpipers embody all of this and more!

We are so grateful to the women of for their long-standing support of , which continued this week when we were awarded another grant to support our residents and families. Plus, this year’s grant was awarded to us through the Sandpipers Associates - those who have been involved with the organization six years or more - which makes it that much more special!

Pictured: Kay Post accepting the grant from Philanthropy VP Gigi O’Malley (right) and Co-President Joyce Chaput (left), who is also a member of . 🩵

SAVE THE DATE! We hope you will mark your calendar and join us for BBQ by the Bay on Sunday, September 10 at King Harbor Yacht Club - a fun and casual opportunity to come together as a community and raise funds to benefit the residents and families of .

Stay tuned for more details, including sponsorship opportunities!