It's the season of giving! The names on our gift list mean we're blessed to spend the holidays with family and friends. Yet, the giving season is also a time for reaching out to and impacting the lives of people whose names you may not know. Maybe you volunteer at a local charity, donate to a cause you care about, or start a fundraiser for a family in need. These moments of giving are many during the holiday season, but can also happen any time of the year!
Spring, summer, fall, winter—many Resort Lifestyle Communities senior residents acknowledge the giving spirit all year long. They prove that with the giving of resources and self, there are endless ways you can make a difference in someone's life.
Here are some of the ways our seniors have given back this year:
Ashwood Square Hosts Canned Food Drive
In November, residents of Ashwood Square Retirement Community hosted a
food drive benefiting the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. Residents encouraged not only their neighbors to donate non-perishable food items to the cause, but also reached out to the greater Chattanooga community for support. "The spirit of the holiday season inspires many in our community to harness the energy of generosity into something charitable and meaningful for others," said Nichole, Lifestyle Director at Ashwood Square. "We're incredibly thankful for all those participating in this year's campaign." By the end of the drive, Ashwood Square collected pounds and pounds of food!
Daniel Pointe Reaches Out to the Homeless
Did you know plastic bags can be used to change lives? Residents of Charleston-based Daniel Pointe Retirement Community regularly knit recycled plastic grocery bags into mats to help support a creative initiative called
Sleep Mats for the Homeless. Once the mats are finished (a single mat is created out of nearly 500 plastic bags), they are distributed weekly to the homeless, along with a meal and other needed supplies. "I've been interested in [Sleep Mats for the Homeless] since it started," noted Carl, a Daniel Pointe resident and member at First Baptist Church, the organization directing the initiative. Carl introduced the idea to Daniel Pointe last year and continues to participate with his wife, Mildred. "There are a lot of people who crochet over here."
Lake Forest Village Raises Awareness for Alzheimer's
In June, during the summer solstice, residents at Lake Forest Village Retirement Community gathered for a unique fundraising event that included great oldies tunes and a slew of rocking chairs. Residents pulled up their favorite chairs, rocked to 50s favorites, and successfully completed their
Longest Day Rock-A-Thon to raise awareness for Alzheimer's Brain & Awareness Month. The Longest Day is a worldwide fundraiser that encourages support for the Alzheimer's Association through a variety of activities. It honors caregivers, those living with Alzheimer's, and those who were lost to the devastating disease. "There are so many near to us who have been affected by this terrible disease that we wanted to honor their strength and endurance in the fight against Alzheimer's," said Joanie, manager for the community. "By coming together on this day, we hope to show these families that they are not alone and inspire hope for others." By the end of the Rock-A-Thon, the community's residents and supporters raised money that gave a whole new meaning to "rocking around the clock!"
Sable Lodge Raises Funds for Adopt-A-Family
Is there any better way to raise funds for a good cause than with wine? Sable Lodge Retirement Community in South Portland, Maine, signed up to participate in the Salvation Army's Adopt-A-Family program. This program is designed to assist families who otherwise wouldn't have the resources to celebrate the holidays. Sable Lodge adopted a family of five, and began preparing an event to raise money for holiday gifts and supplies. The community held a Wine Pull Fundraiser, where residents entered a raffle to win a bottle of wine. By the end, Sable Lodge raised money to use toward making their adopted family's Christmas wishes come true. As an added bonus, several of the residents enjoyed some impromptu wine tasting!
Vickery Rose Volunteers for Breast Cancer Support
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Vickery Rose Retirement Community organized an afternoon tea get-together where residents Sue and Joey shared their survivor stories with fellow residents and guests. During the emotional event, Sue talked about an organization called "Knitted Knockers," a group of volunteers that knit soft, comfortable, and realistic handmade breast prosthesis for women who have undergone mastectomies or other procedures—and provide them FREE for those who request them. It didn't take long for several of the Vickery Rose residents to become volunteer knitters for the organization and to create their own knitting group. As of October, Vickery Rose residents have joined more than 3,000 other knitting groups to create more than 137,000 Knitted Knockers for women in need!
Seniors Inspire the Spirit of Giving
These stories represent only a handful of the ways our communities have shown their love for others throughout 2019. We're proud and grateful for our communities' efforts, and humbled by the creative ways they show their generosity to so many. More than anything, we're inspired to carry with us the spirit of giving not just during the holiday season, but all year long.
So, we want to know—what cause is near and dear to your heart? Whether you volunteer to feed the hungry, walk shelter dogs on the weekends, or spend time reading to children, remember that your love and support is needed—and appreciated—every day.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Resort Lifestyle Communities!
