Residents of the Willow Ridge apartment complex in Morganton, home to many area seniors, celebrated in the spirit of the season last December with members of a FaithHealth outreach team from New Day Christian Church. The church members served the residents they have “adopted” a full Christmas dinner and gave them fruit baskets to enjoy.
When Chaplain Dennis Stamper, who leads the FaithHealth program at Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge, first reached out to New Day Christian Church to recruit volunteers, he found that the church already had an outreach group formed that was seeking opportunities to serve the people of the community. The group decided that they would all participate in the training and become FaithHealth volunteers.
To go out into the community
One of the first referrals the team received was for a lady who lived at Willow Ridge and needed someone to visit her and provide occasional meals. When they visited her, they found that there were other tenets of the apartment building that could use help as well, so they decided to “adopt” all the residents.
Carol Largent, a New Day church member who leads the team of eight FaithHealth volunteers, explained how the relationship with the residents began.
“This is part of our church’s outreach program,” Largent said. “We trained with Blue Ridge Healthcare’s faith-based health program to be volunteers to go out into the community and help some of their patients who may need a ride or need somebody to give them some food. Our small group here started with one tenant. This tenant said the whole time she had been praying for some group to come in here and liven up this place – people who would come in and get them back together again as neighbors, so they would have the opportunity to enjoy one another. The thing we found that made us attach to them was they seemed to be lonely and want people to reach out to them. Some of them don’t even go out of their apartments.”
Largent said she and the other volunteers started coming regularly to visit with the seniors and play games such as bingo. Eventually, they offered a Bible study to the residents, which was well received.
Bringing joy
She spoke about the response she has seen from the residents since the church has made a special effort to fellowship with them.
“I’ve seen huge effects on these people since we’ve been coming over here,” Largent said. “They’re more talkative. They laugh and enjoy being together. Roxie (Freeman), the (apartment) manager, has been really great to work with. I think she’s just glad somebody took an interest in them and wanted to do activities with them.”
Freeman said she was grateful for the church’s efforts in bringing joy to the apartment’s residents.
“I think it’s awesome that New Day Christian Church has adopted us,” Freeman said.
Other volunteers from New Day’s outreach program who helped with the dinner spoke about what the project meant to them.
“I think it’s good that we can help somebody else and give them some Christmas cheer,” said June Myus-Gregor. “It’s really nice to have some new friends.”
Beverly Carlton agreed.
“We want to be able to outreach and fellowship with other people in the community, just like Christ has done,” Carlton said.
Some of the residents who received a meal expressed their appreciation for the church’s thoughtfulness:
“I think this is absolutely wonderful for the Christmas season. Jesus is the reason, and this church is showing they really feel that way. It’s an honor and a pleasure to have them.” – Claudette Hasson
“I’ve lived here for two years, and I’ve never seen anything like this. What they’re doing is loving us for Christmas. That’s what the season is all about. I know all the tenants, and they’re excited.” – Mary Scott
“I’m so thankful these ladies found us. All of them are great Christian ladies, and I’ve enjoyed the time they spent with us and look forward to more times with them. I love every one of them.” – Mildred Fox
Adapted with permission from The News Herald. Photos courtesy of The News Herald at www.morganton.com
