When VNA of Northwest Indiana turned 50 years old in 2020, the nonprofit planned to go big for the celebration. But when everything shut down or had heavy restrictions thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, the VNA of NWI put the festivities on pause. Now in its 51st year, the VNA is excited to celebrate, marking this year as the organization’s “50-ish” anniversary.
“We could not let our 50th anniversary go uncelebrated,” said Maria Galka, Director of Development for the VNA of NWI. “We’ve been in this community for 50 years, taking care of people no matter their financial situation.”
One reason the VNA has continued to operate in Northwest Indiana for so long is because of the annual events that have been woven into the Region’s fabric and the people who have supported their efforts. Galka emphasized the importance of the organization’s events in sharing what they do and connecting to the larger community.
“Our mission is to make ‘best days possible,’” said Dave Collins, Hops for Hospice Chairman. “A lot of people think that when you go into hospice, it’s your worst days. But that’s not true, because you’re not going in and out of the hospital, you’re at home, surrounded by family and the people you love spending quality time with them.”
As things have become safer and some restrictions have been lifted, the VNA of NWI has gotten the ball rolling on doing just that. The “50-ish” Anniversary Task Force was created, made up of VNA of NWI staff, board members, and volunteers who have been hard at work planning this year’s events.
On Thursday, March 11, the Task Force met to discuss the events and where they are in the planning process. In attendance were: Galka; Collins; Melanie Marshall, Director of Quality and Compliance; Bob Franko, President and CEO; Lynn Gassoway-Reichle, former VNA Board Member; Jeanne Baird, VNA Hospice Volunteer; and Cindy Sausman, former VNA Board Member.
Other members not in attendance include: Sue Grossbauer, the Grossbauer Group; Dawn Collins, Groovy ‘70s Gala Chairman; Joyce Alexa, VNA Board Member; Cheryl Slack, DNP, RN, CNE, former VNA clinical staff; Diane Spoljorik, VNA Board Member; and Viktoria Voller, Community Volunteer.
As the group began going over the meeting’s agenda, discussing such events as the beloved fundraising and solidarity event, Stroll for Hospice, the upcoming and anticipated Hops for Hospice in partnership with Chesterton Brewery, and more, new ideas and strategies were brought to the forefront. Attendees collaborated on fundraising, community outreach, event marketing, and advertising as well as COVID-19 logistics in order to keep the community and VNA staff and volunteers safe.
The collaboration highlights the Task Force’s energy as it moves into an exciting stage of event planning and gets closer to meeting its goal of engagement, access to the VNA’s resources, and, most importantly, community solidarity.
“On any given day, we are taking care of 500 to 600 clients either through our hospice and palliative care, Meals on Wheels, Life Alert, or the Phoenix Center,” Marshall said.
“Our events highlight those services, but more than that, they are also a place for families and friends to come together and remember their loved one,” Galka said. “For events like the Stroll for Hospice, it’s more than just a fundraising event. It’s an opportunity for families, our nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and more to be there. It’s a chance for families to reconnect with the people who took care of their loved ones.”
“They get to celebrate in a joyous way,” Galka said, emphasizing the joy and excitement surrounding the organization’s anniversary.
The meeting concluded on a hopeful note as attendees went their separate ways to get to work. For more information about the VNA of Northwest Indiana and the upcoming “50-ish” anniversary events, visit their website at https://vnanwi.org/.