CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Matins Kiwanis Program Host Frank Moran introduced Rhonda Miller, community liaison for Iowa River Hospice Home before a tour.

Matins Kiwanis met Thursday morning at 6:30 at the Iowa River Hospice Home and were greeted by Larry Kester. After the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation, Token Fines were received from Tammie Engle, Frank Moran, Kester and Otto Welfring with Happy Dollars coming from Kevin Hitchins and Andy Schwandt. New member, Dex Walker, introduced himself and a thank you letter from scholarship recipient David Brintnall was read. Discussion about the funnel cake trailer participation in the coliseum fundraiser at the Jason Brown concert was voted on and approved.

Program Host Moran introduced Rhonda Miller as the meeting’s hostess. Miller is the community liaison at Iowa River Hospice and gave the Matins a tour of the facility. The facility is located at 502 Plaza Heights Road in Marshalltown and this year it is celebrating its 10th year at this location.

Iowa River was established in 1983 and is one of 10 Hospices in the Marshalltown area. This facility has served more than 1,100 patients and Iowa River has served more than 5,200 patients since it was established. The tour showed one of the six bedrooms with features that include a wet room bathroom, family room, large closet and door to the wrap around porch that even the bed has access to.

The family kitchen and large table has served for many family gatherings over the years and lets the family just be a family without the worries of the care for the patient. There is a playroom for kids and even a patio with grill that includes beautiful grounds to help comfort the family and patients. Volunteers receive training to assist in a wide variety of ways and the patient-to-staff ratio is kept low to help patients and family deal with all the issues they are facing.

After the tour all questions were answered and the meeting was adjourned.