This Christmas, departments throughout the hospital teamed up for the Best Basket Challenge, in which they were asked to create a themed basket. In total, 20 baskets were given. When the baskets went on display in the Assembly Hall, people voted for their favorite baskets with money, and the baskets earned over $850 for the Chad Scoles Scholarship Fund.

In January, the baskets were turned over to Streator’s Haiti Mission Team. The team includes many members who are St. Mary’s employees. The baskets were one of the feature attractions of Sand, Seashells and Spirits, a Beer and Wine Tasting Adventure. Many employees attended this event, curious to find out what would become of their department’s basket or eager to take one home.

The grateful Haiti Mission Team divided up the baskets. Some were raffled off, some were set aside for a live auction, and some were designated for silent auction. Team members even sold raffle tickets in the Cafeteria prior to the event to enable all employees to get in on the action. The baskets brought in around $1,500, with Diagnostic Imaging’s Trader Joe Favorites bringing in the highest total for a single basket ($165).

“Overall, we did well between the ticket sales, raffles and the 12 Silver Sponsor Tables,” stated Carolyn Evans, RN, Women’s Health, and Haiti Mission Team member.

In fact, the 12 Silver Sponsor Tables were sold out before the group really advertised for them. Participants sitting at these special reserved tables received a chance to win an additional prize. All guests enjoyed generous samples of a wide variety of wines and beer as well as the opportunity to purchase them at a discount.

The funds collected at the wine tasting, as well as funds collected from the other fundraisers the team holds throughout the year, will help defray the cost of taking a mission team to Haiti and also will go toward buying supplies and financial support of organizations in Haiti.

“The cost for one person to make the trip averages $1,400,” explained Carolyn. “This includes airfare, an overnight stay in Miami, transportation in Port-au-Prince and a daily fee for staying at the Haitian Health Foundation in Jeremie. Generally, everyone buys their own airline ticket, and we try to pay for some of the other expenses.”

The team always heads for Jeremie which is a mountainous isolated city with many serious health conditions. Jeremie also is the location where the Hospital Sisters operate the Center of Hope. When the team goes to Haiti, some offer professional healthcare services while others help with building and maintenance projects. The last trip was made in January, 2005. Nine Streator residents took part in that trip, which was the fifth such trip since they began in 1999. A trip scheduled for March was postponed due to the hostile environment as a result of political upheaval in Haiti.

“Our Sisters in Jeremie are safe, and they say it is quiet there,” Carolyn stated. “But we must travel through Port-au-Prince to get to Jeremie.”

Funds also go toward the purchase of necessary supplies. They purchase medicine and medical supplies that are needed. Last spring, they purchased $3,000 of local peanut butter and had it shipped to Haiti with the help of local merchants. When the team travels to Haiti, they collect donations of old suitcases. They fill the suitcases with needed medical supplies and some foods and check the suitcases when they fly. Their only personal luggage is carry-on. The suitcases are left in Haiti and are used by a Haitian as a dresser.

“As trips are cancelled by us and other groups, this affects the amount of supplies brought and affects the Haitian Health Foundation financially,” Carolyn said. “Since we have been blessed with successful fundraising, we will be making a donation to HHF to offset the funds lost that we would normally pay to stay.”

Sister Mary Mac Creedon, one of the Hospital Sisters in Haiti, corresponds with team members and sends her thanks for the supplies that are sent. The supplies frequently are basic ones that often are obtained easily in the United States with no more than a trip to the drug store. Yet, they are a precious commodity to those in need of healthcare in Haiti. Some of the items include antifungal creams, vaginal creams, Omnicef and blood pressure medicines. One of the items specifically mentioned by Sister Mary Mac was Doppler gel which they desperately needed to meet the demand for sonograms at the Center of Hope.

The team is hopeful they will be able to make another journey in early 2007, but until then, they will stay busy with fundraisers such as their used book sale and Christmas decoration sale. They also hold drives to collect necessary items. Recently, they held successful drives to collect baby layettes and vitamins. And they would like to hold another wine tasting event in January, 2007.

In appreciation of the hospital’s efforts to support their cause, the team also made a donation to the Friends of St. Mary's Hospital which will benefit the Chad Scoles Scholarship.