As another school year comes to an end, high school students and teachers are busy finishing up projects and preparing for final exams and some even have their sights set on graduation. But that hasn’t stopped Johnson Creek High School Agricultural teacher Kelsey Sambs and students from her landscaping class from getting their hands dirty outside the Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Center (IPC) in Johnson Creek. They recently planted flowers and other plants around the IPC that were leftover from the school’s FFA plant sale.
“Instead of giving them away to somebody or throwing them away, we thought let’s give back to the community,” Sambs said. And someone brought up Rainbow Hospice Care and I said, “That’s a great idea!”
Sambs, now in her sixth year with the school district and also the Johnson Creek FFA advisor has seen the school’s agricultural program only continue to grow from when she first started. The new high school opening in 2016 was the first step in allowing for additional space. Then back in January, a bigger, new greenhouse opened at the high school giving students even more opportunities to work on projects that they wouldn’t have had a chance to do in the past. The greenhouse was funded entirely by grants and donations. Now even more students are becoming interested in the field of agriculture, with 80 students currently involved in the program.
“We’ve probably tripled the amount of plants we’ve produced this year, because our greenhouse is about triple, quadruple the size,” Sambs said. “So the kids have been working on this since February when we started getting our plants and so our first sale was the last weekend in April and all of my plant science classes take care of them. They plant them, they manage them, do everything with it so…it’s awesome.”
Visiting the IPC certainly gives students some much-needed hands-on experience where they can be outside and work with their hands more and apply all the lessons they’ve learned in the classroom. The plant science classes took care of growing the plants and Sambs’ landscaping class is taking care of the rest of the work at the IPC.
“I was like these kids,” Sambs said. “I wanted to do the hands-on stuff and some of these schools around us don’t have that so I’m really happy that these kids can get out. Some of these kids can’t stand being in the classroom setting and so it gives them a different approach to education where they’re out doing stuff constantly.”
The hands-on class component has given the Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center a chance to have a little makeover as well. The fresh flowers and plants donated by Sambs and her students make the IPC’s surroundings even more visually appealing to patients, their families, other visitors, and fellow employees.
The Johnson Creek agricultural program has undertaken some exciting, new projects this school year. Sambs helped spearhead an aquaponics program with her students in which they raise tilapia in a fish tank and in turn the tilapia produce waste which can then be used to grow lettuce for the school’s lunch program. They also planted 35 fruit trees (apple, pear, cherry, plum, and peach) in a brand new orchard, along with 60 raspberry plants, and added four beehives on the grounds. The new school garden is also still in its infancy, just getting started last school year. Sambs hopes they can expand it even more in the future.
“We’re trying to get back to bringing fresh foods to our school lunch,” Sambs said. “Ideally, I would love to see a barn put up at our school because we’re out in the country kind of, and where we can produce our own pork, our own beef, or chickens and then that would go back to our kids. So ideally, that’s what I would love to see…bringing more of the animal science hands-on to the school.”
“I think our future’s bright and I think we’re going to continue to grow and I think there are some cool projects that will be coming down the road,” Sambs said. “Maybe not all at once like it happened this year, but I think later on these projects will continue, so I’m pretty excited.”
Rainbow Hospice Care is a community based not-for-profit organization that provides a full spectrum of physical, emotional and spiritual care to terminally ill patients and their families in both in-home and inpatient settings. Founded in 1990, dedicated caregivers at Rainbow Hospice Care have been serving residents of south-central Wisconsin for nearly 30 years. Regardless of age, race, gender, faith, ethnicity, insurance coverage or economic status, they treat all of their patients and their loved ones with the same respect, kindness and concern—focusing on quality of life, maintaining comfort and dignity, and providing expert support tailored to each individual’s unique needs and wishes. To learn more call (920) 674-6255, or visit www.rainbowhospicecare.org.
Jefferson, WI – For the second straight year, Rainbow Hospice Care has been awarded the honor of hosting a Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin member. A program that places individuals with nonprofit organizations across Wisconsin to build and strengthen volunteer programs throughout communities.
These individuals apply for any of the 45 placements available in the state of Wisconsin, if selected they commit to a year of focused training in volunteer management while assisting with such tasks as: recruiting, training, supervising volunteers and other (non-volunteer) tasks specific to the mission of the nonprofit. During a typical day of service at Rainbow Hospice Care, the member may assist with various office tasks, patient care, volunteer recruitment, attend committee meetings, unpack medical supplies, housekeeping, gardening, and attend educational events and conferences.
Last September Rainbow Hospice Care welcomed the first AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin Member to the team, Alyssa Pierson, a social work graduate from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. Before coming to Rainbow Hospice Care, Pierson had already completed a year of AmeriCorps service through Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County. There, she managed the volunteer department and acted as family services liaison.
“I stumbled upon AmeriCorps while job searching after college. When I applied, I had never heard of AmeriCorps, but I decided to give it a shot,” said Pierson. “I am already grateful for the experiences I’ve had and everything I’ve learned through AmeriCorps service. Over the last two years, I have been able to serve with two very different, but amazing nonprofits that do so much for the communities they serve.”
While this program is designed to set up their members for success after a period of training, it also directly benefits the programs and organizations they serve, who essentially receive a full-time employee at a discounted cost.
Alyssa Pierson (right) works in the Volunteer Room of the Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Center where a variety of roles makes her a very valuable asset.
“Working with our Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps member Alyssa continues to be very beneficial and rewarding for Rainbow,” said Jillaine Hughey, Volunteer Coordinator at Rainbow Hospice Care. “This partnership has allowed us to increase our volunteer productivity, maintaining the top-notch care provided to our patients and their families.”
After one successful year as partners, Rainbow Hospice Care has been awarded another Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin member and are now accepting applications. The next term runs from Monday, September 11, 2017 through August 31, 2018 and must meet specific requirements to be eligible.
Pierson will still be serving for Rainbow Hospice Care throughout the next year, but she has already benefitted from her time here, being accepted into the University of Wisconsin-Madison Master of Social Work program. She credits this opportunity to her time with Rainbow as a Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin Member.
“AmeriCorps has also provided an opportunity for me to pursue a master’s degree by using my education award,” said Pierson. “Serving with Rainbow Hospice and Habitat for Humanity, has given me knowledge and experience that is absolutely invaluable.”
For more information or to apply please contact Jill Hughey at (920) 674-6255, jillaine.hughey@rainbowhospicecare.org, or visit www.RainbowHospiceCare.org.
Posted: December 11, 2019 by Samantha Margelofsky
Johnson Creek High School Students Lend a Helping Hand
As another school year comes to an end, high school students and teachers are busy finishing up projects and preparing for final exams and some even have their sights set on graduation. But that hasn’t stopped Johnson Creek High School Agricultural teacher Kelsey Sambs and students from her landscaping class from getting their hands dirty outside the Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Center (IPC) in Johnson Creek. They recently planted flowers and other plants around the IPC that were leftover from the school’s FFA plant sale.
“Instead of giving them away to somebody or throwing them away, we thought let’s give back to the community,” Sambs said. And someone brought up Rainbow Hospice Care and I said, “That’s a great idea!”
Sambs, now in her sixth year with the school district and also the Johnson Creek FFA advisor has seen the school’s agricultural program only continue to grow from when she first started. The new high school opening in 2016 was the first step in allowing for additional space. Then back in January, a bigger, new greenhouse opened at the high school giving students even more opportunities to work on projects that they wouldn’t have had a chance to do in the past. The greenhouse was funded entirely by grants and donations. Now even more students are becoming interested in the field of agriculture, with 80 students currently involved in the program.
“We’ve probably tripled the amount of plants we’ve produced this year, because our greenhouse is about triple, quadruple the size,” Sambs said. “So the kids have been working on this since February when we started getting our plants and so our first sale was the last weekend in April and all of my plant science classes take care of them. They plant them, they manage them, do everything with it so…it’s awesome.”
Visiting the IPC certainly gives students some much-needed hands-on experience where they can be outside and work with their hands more and apply all the lessons they’ve learned in the classroom. The plant science classes took care of growing the plants and Sambs’ landscaping class is taking care of the rest of the work at the IPC.
“I was like these kids,” Sambs said. “I wanted to do the hands-on stuff and some of these schools around us don’t have that so I’m really happy that these kids can get out. Some of these kids can’t stand being in the classroom setting and so it gives them a different approach to education where they’re out doing stuff constantly.”
The hands-on class component has given the Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center a chance to have a little makeover as well. The fresh flowers and plants donated by Sambs and her students make the IPC’s surroundings even more visually appealing to patients, their families, other visitors, and fellow employees.
The Johnson Creek agricultural program has undertaken some exciting, new projects this school year. Sambs helped spearhead an aquaponics program with her students in which they raise tilapia in a fish tank and in turn the tilapia produce waste which can then be used to grow lettuce for the school’s lunch program. They also planted 35 fruit trees (apple, pear, cherry, plum, and peach) in a brand new orchard, along with 60 raspberry plants, and added four beehives on the grounds. The new school garden is also still in its infancy, just getting started last school year. Sambs hopes they can expand it even more in the future.
“We’re trying to get back to bringing fresh foods to our school lunch,” Sambs said. “Ideally, I would love to see a barn put up at our school because we’re out in the country kind of, and where we can produce our own pork, our own beef, or chickens and then that would go back to our kids. So ideally, that’s what I would love to see…bringing more of the animal science hands-on to the school.”
“I think our future’s bright and I think we’re going to continue to grow and I think there are some cool projects that will be coming down the road,” Sambs said. “Maybe not all at once like it happened this year, but I think later on these projects will continue, so I’m pretty excited.”
Rainbow Hospice Care is a community based not-for-profit organization that provides a full spectrum of physical, emotional and spiritual care to terminally ill patients and their families in both in-home and inpatient settings. Founded in 1990, dedicated caregivers at Rainbow Hospice Care have been serving residents of south-central Wisconsin for nearly 30 years. Regardless of age, race, gender, faith, ethnicity, insurance coverage or economic status, they treat all of their patients and their loved ones with the same respect, kindness and concern—focusing on quality of life, maintaining comfort and dignity, and providing expert support tailored to each individual’s unique needs and wishes. To learn more call (920) 674-6255, or visit www.rainbowhospicecare.org.
Posted: July 17, 2017 by ktehle
Rainbow Hospice Care Awarded as Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin Member Host Spot
Jefferson, WI – For the second straight year, Rainbow Hospice Care has been awarded the honor of hosting a Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin member. A program that places individuals with nonprofit organizations across Wisconsin to build and strengthen volunteer programs throughout communities.
These individuals apply for any of the 45 placements available in the state of Wisconsin, if selected they commit to a year of focused training in volunteer management while assisting with such tasks as: recruiting, training, supervising volunteers and other (non-volunteer) tasks specific to the mission of the nonprofit. During a typical day of service at Rainbow Hospice Care, the member may assist with various office tasks, patient care, volunteer recruitment, attend committee meetings, unpack medical supplies, housekeeping, gardening, and attend educational events and conferences.
Last September Rainbow Hospice Care welcomed the first AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin Member to the team, Alyssa Pierson, a social work graduate from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. Before coming to Rainbow Hospice Care, Pierson had already completed a year of AmeriCorps service through Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County. There, she managed the volunteer department and acted as family services liaison.
“I stumbled upon AmeriCorps while job searching after college. When I applied, I had never heard of AmeriCorps, but I decided to give it a shot,” said Pierson. “I am already grateful for the experiences I’ve had and everything I’ve learned through AmeriCorps service. Over the last two years, I have been able to serve with two very different, but amazing nonprofits that do so much for the communities they serve.”
While this program is designed to set up their members for success after a period of training, it also directly benefits the programs and organizations they serve, who essentially receive a full-time employee at a discounted cost.
Alyssa Pierson (right) works in the Volunteer Room of the Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Center where a variety of roles makes her a very valuable asset.
“Working with our Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps member Alyssa continues to be very beneficial and rewarding for Rainbow,” said Jillaine Hughey, Volunteer Coordinator at Rainbow Hospice Care. “This partnership has allowed us to increase our volunteer productivity, maintaining the top-notch care provided to our patients and their families.”
After one successful year as partners, Rainbow Hospice Care has been awarded another Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin member and are now accepting applications. The next term runs from Monday, September 11, 2017 through August 31, 2018 and must meet specific requirements to be eligible.
Pierson will still be serving for Rainbow Hospice Care throughout the next year, but she has already benefitted from her time here, being accepted into the University of Wisconsin-Madison Master of Social Work program. She credits this opportunity to her time with Rainbow as a Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin Member.
“AmeriCorps has also provided an opportunity for me to pursue a master’s degree by using my education award,” said Pierson. “Serving with Rainbow Hospice and Habitat for Humanity, has given me knowledge and experience that is absolutely invaluable.”
For more information or to apply please contact Jill Hughey at (920) 674-6255, jillaine.hughey@rainbowhospicecare.org, or visit www.RainbowHospiceCare.org.
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