The Big Read

Jackie Osting, Adult Program Coordinator for the Hancock County Public Library, told the Greenfield Kiwanis about the Big Read, a month of activities centered on the book, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. 

During March 2012, the Library scheduled events beginning with a kick-off at the Arts Center on Saturday, March 3.  The kick-off will feature bluegrass music and a keynote address from Professor Robert G. Barrows, chair of the Department of History at IUPUI.  The Artists Upstairs will be painting large panels inspired by the prose and imagery from The Grapes of Wrath.

A student reception and Artists Upstairs Exhibit will be held during Second Friday, Friday March 9 from 6-9 pm at the Creative Arts Center, 2 West Main St, Greenfield.  Tim Grimm will be in concert in the library’s Greenfield Banking Co. Community Room, Tuesday March 6 at 7 pm.

More information and activities can be found at www.hcplibrary.org.

Pictured are Diane Osborne, Director of the Hancock County Public Library and Jackie Osting, Adult Program Coordinator for the Hancock County Public Library.

Hancock Hospital Hospice

Kristi Barber, Executive Director of the Hancock Regional Hospital Foundation spoke to Greenfield Kiwanis about the new Hospice Unit at the Hospital.  The new unit provides in hospital care for patients who are terminally ill.

The new unit provides larger beds and sofa sleepers in each patient room allowing family members to be with their loved ones.  The unit also contains laundry and cooking facilities.  Common areas are provided for children to play and family members to gather in a living room atmosphere. 

The new fund drive for the Hospice Unit is at $1.5 million dollars of a $3 million goal.  For further information contact Mrs. Barber at the Hancock Regional Hospital Foundation.

Dr. Gerry Smith speaks about Sierra Leone

Dr. Gerry Smith of Greenfield spoke to Kiwanis about his involvement with NarSarah Clinic in Sierra Leone, West Africa.  Dr. Smith serves on the board of SEED (Salone Enabling and Empowering Development, Inc.).  SEED operates the NarSarah Clinic the Koinadugu District of Sierra Leone. 

Dr. Smith told us of the conditions in Sierra Leone one of the poorest countries in the world.  Life expectancy is 46 years, the literacy rate is 21%, 70 % of the population lives below the poverty line, 32% of the population does not have access to safe drinking water and childhood mortality is 25%.  Most of the country has no electricity, water, or sanitary sewer.

The NarSarah Clinic sees over 50 patients per day, some of whom walk over 10 miles to get to the clinic.  1 to 2 babies are delivered per day.  In addition to the clinic SEED provides: Health Education Programs; HIV/AIDS Awareness classes; Women Against Poverty; Business Development; Agriculture and Animal Husbandry training; Education including scholarships; Camp for Amputees and War Wounded; and a School for the Blind.  One of the educational programs taught the local clients how to can and preserve food for the rainy season when there are no harvests.  The equipment including canners and canning jars was provided in addition to the training. 

More information on SEED, including programs and how to help, can be found at www.seed-narsarah.org .