Volunteers bring music, news and companionship to residents at The Lutheran Home Belle Plaine Campus
BELLE PLAINE, MINN. April 21, 2017 — The Lutheran Home Belle Plaine Campus will celebrate its volunteers at a luncheon on April 28. In the last fiscal year, volunteers gave more than 1,700 hours to the ministries of health care and housing on the campus. Three local residents in particular will be in the spotlight for their service —Carman Meyer, Dean Jones and Barb Vatthauer.
The highlight of Barb Vatthauer’s week is the Wednesday morning chapel service at Kingsway Retirement Living, where she plays piano.
“The people at Kingsway are so kind and they’re so fun to get to know. I just love visiting there,” said Barb, a former employee of The Lutheran Home who had many roles with the organization over 25 years.
She accompanies memorial services and other events on The Lutheran Home Belle Plaine Campus, and she lends a hand with many activities. Her husband drives the Kingsway bus; the couple lives one block from The Lutheran Home.
“Barb brings a lot of joy wherever she goes, whether it’s with her music or her friendly smile. We’re honored she chooses to share her time and talents with us,” said Vlada Gladis, Life Enrichment Manager at Kingsway Retirement Living.
Volunteer Dean Jones has been preparing the monthly e-newsletter at Hope Residence for nearly a year now. A retired marketing executive, he was interested in learning and taking on new challenges in his volunteer work.
Dean got to know the team at Hope while his wife, Mary, was a resident next door at The Lutheran Home: Belle Plaine. Mary passed away last year, and following that extraordinary loss, Dean was grateful for a reason to get out of the house, get involved with other people and do something useful at Hope.
“It’s work I enjoy – editing and working with graphic layouts on the computer. Even more, I enjoy the environement, a place filled with kindness and loving care,” Dean said.
Hope Residence Director of Disability Services Debra Wilbright appreciates Dean’s cheerful willingness to help: “Dean’s inquisitiveness, skill set and quick wit are a blessing to have here at Hope Residence!”
Carman Meyer retired a decade ago, but every week she’s back at her former workplace. She didn’t want to leave Eunice. The pair met when Eunice moved to The Lutheran Home: Belle Plaine with her dad in 1977.
“When Eunice’s dad died, she was so down and out. She had no family, and I kind of adopted her,” said Carman, who was a beautician at The Lutheran Home for more than 30 years.
Now Carman comes to The Lutheran Home four days a week. She leads Bingo on Mondays and meets Eunice on the weekends for doughnuts and a visit. Carman has always loved older adults, and is happy to hand out beverages at a party for residents or help steer a wheelchair in the right direction.
“Carman is a volunteer we can always count on. If we need her, she’s there,” said Sara Hentges, RN, ACO and Admissions Director at The Lutheran Home. “And her constant care for Eunice, their friendship, is really inspiring.”
The volunteer luncheon at The Lutheran Home coincides with National Volunteer Week April 23-29. Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week is an initiative of Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. The week is an opportunity to recognize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they care about in their community. Thousands of volunteer projects and special events are scheduled throughout the week.
Interested in sharing your time with The Lutheran Home Belle Plaine Campus? Contact Deb Wirt at dwirt@tlha.org or (952) 873-2174 to find out how you can volunteer.
About The Lutheran Home Belle Plaine Campus
The Lutheran Home Belle Plaine Campus offers a continuum of care. Its 22 acres encompass independent senior living, rehabilitative and long-term skilled nursing care, Alzheimer’s care, apartments for people with disabilities, an intermediate care facility, rehabilitative therapy and chaplaincy services. As a ministry of The Lutheran Home Association, our campus provides for the spiritual, physical, mental and emotional needs of those entrusted to their care. For more information, visit www.tlha.org/communities. For real-time updates, follow @TLHAword on Twitter or “Like” TLHA Belle Plaine Campus on Facebook.
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