Pioneers Healthcare Foundation casts wide shadow

MEEKER I The outreach of the Pioneers Healthcare Foundation made “2013 a year of great service and community support for healthcare services in Meeker,” stated Trina Zagar-Brown, chairperson of the Pioneers Healthcare Foundation (PHF).
“Our mission is to be a catalyst for philanthropic giving that supports access to healthcare, healthcare education, services, equipment and technology,” she said. “The foundation is humbled by our community’s generosity and support for our programs. Meeker’s belief in the foundation’s mission motivates us all to be ever more diligent with its resources and push forward to further enhance our programs in support of healthcare in the area.”
Updates on some of those services include:
• Meals on Wheels served approximately 2,800 meals in 2013. The Meals on Wheels program provides a nutritious meal five days a week to many area elderly residents who may not be able to cook for themselves. Volunteer drivers deliver the one mid-day meal Monday through Friday. Each year, it costs almost $19,000 to make and deliver the meals. There is no charge for the meals. However, many of the recipients, their family, friends and local businesses donate to PHF to support the program. In 2013, PHF was able to award $10,000 to offset the meal costs of the program.
• Scholarship winners are working toward nursing and kinesiology degrees.
• The Kris Borchard Strive for Excellence Fund awarded a graduate school scholarship to Brittni Turner to pursue her master’s degree in youth intervention programs, depression and suicide awareness. Turner is attending the University of Wyoming.
• As a 501c3, PHF was able to apply for and was awarded a grant from the Freeman Fairfield Trust to assist Pioneers Medical Center to purchase a portable ultra-sound machine. The machine is used for a wide variety of patient care situations from emergency care to pain management.
• Blazin’ Trails, funded through a United Way grant, is a free wellness program designed to inspire our community to start‒and continue‒on a journey of personal wellness. Each person can design their own itinerary using the resources, tools and support provided through Blazin’ Trails.
The Blazin’ Trails Program is designed to: Promote preventive care by urging annual check-ups and appropriate medical screenings that will be the foundation or “map,” for each individual’s path to better health; to incorporate fitness opportunities to encourage people to add more physical activity to their days and adopt healthier habits; to foster improved nutrition and lifestyles by monthly information classes and real-world tools that empower people to make healthier choices.
• Pioneers Healthcare Foundation is very proud to be part of the team to develop the hospice-type care program for Meeker. Because of a dynamic volunteer group, community support and the leadership of HopeWest; HopeWest-Meeker has been established and is providing hospice and palliative care in our community
“The Pioneers Healthcare Foundation is just two years old, and it is great to see the foundation having a positive impact in our community.” Zagar-Brown said. ”We are eager to hit the ground running in in 2014. This year, we will focus on supporting the new Pioneers Medical Center. One of our goals is to encourage philanthropic giving to support enhanced services and technology at the new facility. It should be a fun year.”
For more information about the Pioneers Healthcare Foundation please call Margie Joy at 970-878-9317 or check out the Internet site at www.pioneershealthfoundation.org