Thoughts from the Senior Warden for April 2025

According to a recent article in USA Today, nearly one-third of older adults postpone necessary medical care due to high costs. Rising healthcare deductibles and co-pays often cause individuals to delay treatments or screenings until they become eligible for Medicare and some even risk being uninsured. Expenses related to dental care and necessary medical devices such as hearing aids and eyeglasses are often not covered by insurance.

Fortunately, financial assistance for such needs is available to residents of Charleston and Kanawha County through the Edmund Caskie Harrison Fund.

Edmund Caskie “Jack” Harrison, a Charleston resident, was killed while serving honorably in the Army during World War I. Following his death his siblings established The Edmund Caskie Harrison Fund at St. John's “for the relief of sickness and the promotion of health in individual cases of need in the City of Charleston and the County of Kanawha.” St. John’s was tasked with managing the fund and has done so successfully for over 100 years. Trustees for the fund are the Rector, Senior Warden, and three at-large parishioners of St. John’s. Individuals can make an application for assistance through the church office. Applicants do not need to be members of St. John’s.

The fund is available to all residents of Kanawha County. The trustees prayerfully consider each application before rendering a decision. To apply for assistance, or for additional information, please contact the church office at 304-346-0359 or church@stjohnswv.org