The Department of Social Services at Gundersen Health System supports patients and families throughout our Tri-State region of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa during the most difficult times in both the hospital and clinic settings.  Social Workers help patients and their families on a wide variety of needs including transportation, financial/insurance concerns, crisis intervention, short term counseling and referral and treatment of Trauma and Emergency patients 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

 For some families, a medical situation can create many hardships which Social Services can offer some assistance.  Gas cards, bus tokens or cab rides are given to patients or family members to offset the cost of frequent trips to our medical center.  Meal cards are provided to those who are here for an unexpected medical crisis.  Medication co-pays are paid for those who are in need of financial assistance. Rental fees for medical essentials such as toilet risers, crutches or walkers are also covered for those who are financially unable to cover these costs and would be unable to return to live in their homes without them.

To raise funds for the costs associated with these valuable services we are planning for our 12th Annual Gundersen Health System Chili Cook-off and Raffle Extravaganza and would love to have your support.  The event consists of up to 21 Teams in a friendly chili cooking competition and each team picks a theme for their chili as well as to decorate/dress up to.  Everyone gets VERY creative and a great time is had by all the attendees who pay to sample the variety of chili's and vote their favorites!  A Raffle Extravaganza is also held with tickets being sold leading up to the event as well as at the event itself culminating in the raffle drawing at the close of the event. 

We are hoping for assistance with donated Raffle Prizes so that all the funds raised can continue to be used for our patient needs.  We also would love your help wiht event supplies and/or items to just give out to the attendees as an additional entice our attendees.  Thanks so much for considering our event!