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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 482
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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recognize Lifeline Chaplaincy for its exceptional hospital |
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ministry work; and |
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WHEREAS, A ministry of the Church of Christ, Lifeline |
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Chaplaincy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing |
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compassionate care and support to the seriously ill and their |
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families and caregivers and to being an educational resource for |
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crisis ministry; and |
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WHEREAS, Lifeline Chaplaincy traces its roots to the |
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charitable work of Marie Banister, who in 1968 began visiting the |
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children's ward at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston; |
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she became known as "The Pillow Lady" after she began bringing |
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small, handmade pillows to the children; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the organization employs five full-time |
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chaplains and has a great number of committed pastoral care |
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volunteers who serve in hospitals across the state; its many |
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programs include the Soft Touch Ministry, which draws on the |
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inspiration of Marie Banister's work to create and deliver |
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handmade pillows, lap robes, cancer caps, and other specialty |
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items to patients; and |
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WHEREAS, Another key Lifeline Chaplaincy program is |
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Compassionate Touch, which is dedicated to providing emergency |
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short-term resources to hospital patients and caregivers; the |
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program grew out of Lifeline Chaplaincy's long-standing close |
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relationships with hospital social services personnel, who work |
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directly with the organization to coordinate help for those in |
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need, and it now serves more than 2,000 patients and families |
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each year; and |
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WHEREAS, Compassionate Touch provides one-time funding for |
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such immediate expenses as hotels, food, parking, travel, and |
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utilities, usually within 48 hours, and without bureaucratic |
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delays; assistance is provided irrespective of a patient's race, |
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gender, type of injury or illness, age, ethnicity, geographical |
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origin, or religious preference, and the organization has |
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disbursed $2.5 million since its inception in 1997; and |
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WHEREAS, Lifeline Chaplaincy also offers a range of |
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workshops and seminars to train church leaders and pastoral care |
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volunteers to help patients and families in crisis; it is truly |
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fitting that this outstanding organization receive special |
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recognition for offering support and comfort to those who need it |
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most; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby commend the staff and volunteers of Lifeline |
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Chaplaincy on their commitment to providing care and support to |
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hospital patients, their families, and their caregivers and extend |
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to them best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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this exceptional organization as an expression of high regard |
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from the Texas Senate. |
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Watson |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 22, 2017. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |