ELLINWOOD — The Ellinwood Area Health Foundation will be hosting its first “Giving is Receiving” event. This year’s fundraising event includes a donor drive, health fair, poker run, dinner, dance and raffle to be held from 10 a.m. to midnight on April 28. Proceeds will be used to help purchase a new telemetry unit for cardiac patients and many needed items for Ellinwood District  Hospital and clinic.  
“Along with the fundraiser, the donor drive will be a time for the foundation, the auxiliary and hospital staff to help organize your health care,” said Michelle Kowalsky, president of the foundation. “How many people in the Barton County area do you know that have needed or received blood, stem cells, bone marrow or an organ transplant?  Do you have a will, a trust, a DNR, a living will, durable power of attorney?
“Do you have questions about how to register to be a donor or how or why you need advance directives?” she continued.  “Do you need health insurance or medical assistance?  Do you or a family member have questions about long term care or short term care or nursing homes?”
The event begins with a donor drive at 10 a.m. at Lone Wolf Restaurant, 111 E. 1st. The American Red Cross, Donate Life/Midwest Transplant (organ, tissue and  eye), University of Kansas Medical Center Body Program (donate your body to science), Be the Match (stem cell, bone marrow and cord blood), CorCell (cord blood) and notary available. In addition, healthcare businesses will also be present.
A Poker Run, sponsored by the Bikers of Central Kansas, begins at 1 p.m. at EDH. Stops include Lyons, Odin, Great Bend and Ellinwood.
A hog feed will begin at 5 p.m. also at Lone Wolf Restaurant. The cost is a free will donation. There will be a silent auction from 5-10 p.m., at raffle at 7 p.m. and a dance featuring the Catfish Cowboys at 8 p.m.
There will be people on site that can help you answer those hard questions, register to help save a neighbors life or point you in the right direction, said Kowalsky. The American Red Cross will also be available for blood donations on a prearranged schedule.  Call  620-564-2548, ext. 129 to set up an appointment.