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Helpful Resources:
Elder Abuse Prevention |
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| Merrill Gardens Senior Ministry - By
Joan S |
09.28.06 |
Merrill Gardens is a residential complex
for senior men and women that is part of our Senior
Ministry. The residents are an interesting and diverse
group from all over this country. Our Senior Ministry
visits them on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at
10:00 a.m.Our 2nd Thursday
group helps the residents with repairs and minor mending
to their clothing. The 4th Thursday group assists in
completing craft projects devised by their coordinator.
We really enjoy hearing about their
careers and activities. One gentleman is quite an
accomplished painter and had one of his lovely paintings
chosen for the Merrill Gardens Christmas card. Another
lady who is a new resident is 100 years old, bright and
funny and walks 2 miles every day! Quite an inspiration.
They are so appreciative of our visits and I'm sure it
brightens their day as well as ours.
If anyone is interested in joining us
please contact Joan at 480-831-5111. If you cannot
commit to every visit we would love to have you come
when you're available.
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LOHUMC Volunteers share their experiences....
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| "All good things come to
those who wait" by Barbara H. |
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Every time I
hear these words, I recall my volunteering at Pennington
and Merrill Gardens and helping our elderly seniors.
Sara has become a regular for our Busy Bee Group, as she loves
to have us come to her apartment to do her ironing. Sara is a
gem. After her husband's passing and Sara could no longer
maintain her home in Chicago, her son moved her to Arizona to be
closer to him and to start a new life with other Pennington
residents.
Sara is very interesting and has a wide range of friends. Her
hobby of painting shows throughout her apartment and her love
for it beams across her face as she recalls her painting days;
Sara is now legally blind.
Doing our volunteering for Sara is such a pleasure. She greets
all of our LOHUMC volunteers with such enthusiasm, we cannot help
but get caught up in her cheerfulness.
As we leave Sara's room, a smile comes across our face, as 90
year old Sara remind us she is in "God's Holding Place!"
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| "We can learn
so much from our elders, if we just listen" by Suzanne P. |
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I asked one of the residents how old she was and
her reply was "I really don't remember. It really isn't
important. I am enjoying my life here (I don't remember how long
I've been here, either) and each day is pleasant."
We dwell so much on ages and earthly things, when God has given
us each other to love and so many wonderful things of His to
enjoy each day.
Our elders seem to have realized this, and we
could benefit by taking more time to look for God's gifts in our
lives.
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December 11th, 2003
Dear Light of Hope,
Pennington Gardens is a locally operated, three-year old Assisted Living
community serving about eighty-eight residents. We offer three levels of
assisted living services, secured Alzheimer's programs, short-term
respite care, and an adult day care program.
We at Pennington Gardens feel extremely fortunate that
for the past two years the Senior Ministry Volunteers of
the Light of Hope United Methodist Church have chosen
to volunteer at our facility as part of their community service project.
They visit with individual residents on a regular basis, providing them
with friendship and contact from the "outside world". Also, twice a
month they run the "Busy Bees" program at Pennington
Gardens, helping residents with small tasks such as pretty nails, arts
and crafts, mending, ironing, reading, writing, and wrapping.
"Busy Bees" is also a wonderful social experience for
our residents, and the program would not be possible without the
generous support of your Senior Ministry Volunteers. We hope very much
that Light of Hope United Methodist Church will be able to continue
to provide our seniors with the invaluable friendship and support of its
wonderful volunteers, for which we are so grateful.
Wishing you and your loved ones Happy Holidays.
Warmest regards,
Jenny Swanson
Marketing Director
Pennington Gardens - Dignified Senior Living
977 S. Pennington Drive
Chandler, Arizona 85224
480-814-9046 |
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