The Episcopal Home
September 2019
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"By all these lovely tokens, September days are here, With summer’s best of weather, And autumn’s best of cheer."
- Helen Hunt Jackson,
September
,
1830-1885
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A Friend in Need...
Once again, we are very grateful to the Outreach Team from Mt. Calvary (Camp HIll) for helping us with a big project. We had an upstairs hallway that hadn't seen a fresh coat of paint in many years. Our good friends from Mt. Calvary showed up ready to work, and painted the hallway, a resident room, and closet doors in our upstairs sitting area. They finished the jobs in record time, saved us many dollars, and everything looks great. These folks truly understand the value of volunteering.
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"Volunteering is not about money. Volunteering is about giving, contributing, and helping other individuals. It is working with others to make a meaningful contribution to better a community."
-
Arden Brummell,
The Value of Volunteering
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The other day as I was leaving work, I said to some residents, "Have a good evening. I am going home to do odds and ends like the laundry, ironing, and cleaning." I was hoping they would feel sorry for me, but to my surprise, one of the residents said, "Oh, I wish I could do those things again." I stopped in my tracks. What was she really saying? How could anyone possibly miss cleaning and laundry? Yet, doesn't it feel good to put things in order and create clean surroundings? Is running a household a way of expressing love and caring?
One of the signs that our EH community is alive can be found in material things that convey caring. Flowers are blooming because someone waters and feeds them. Healthy meals are prepared in a clean kitchen by capable hands. Rooms are cleaned, medications are organized, odors are addressed, trash is collected and laundry is done. These are just some of the ways that reflect the quality of our staff's work and the care in their hearts.
"How would you like to have it cooked?"
"What do you suggest?"
"What do you think about this color?"
What activities would you like to do?"
"What do you think?"
When I hear interactions between staff and residents such as these, I am reminded that we are a community, and that these interactions help to reflect the quality of living here.
Recognizing the gifts that others offer in caring for the residents, as well as the residents' care for each other, is important to our community. Being positive and thanking each other for words of encouragement, small favors, and for just being present and available can bring immeasurable quality of life to a resident or staff member.
We live a quiet, low-key life here that shows the residents feel at home, relaxed, and at peace in this community. There is something about the ordinariness of their lives that is deceiving because our residents are far from ordinary. Yes, they might be aging and might need some type of help, but they are so unique. Their specialness shines because they live in a community that values and encourages them.
So, the next time you are unenthused about a necessary chore, stop to think that even a small mundane task can be an expression of love and caring.
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- May you have good memories of those who cannot be with you.
- May you have appreciation for yourself, what you do for others, and what others do for you.
- May we treat each other with kind words and thoughts and always be fair.
Kind wishes!
Mary Grace
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RESIDENTS
September 6: Margaret
September 18: Cathy
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STAFF
September 29:Donna
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A Well-Deserved Retirement
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Activities Directors are special people. They are kind, creative, cheerful and patient.
Recently, we bid a fond farewell to Vivian Carbaugh. Vivian worked at the Home for many years as our Activities Director. She organized and planned countless activities for our residents twice a day, nearly every day. She cared about each and every resident, and was always willing to listen, lend a hand, or lead discussions. Vivian has retired to spend more time with her husband and to enjoy a more unscheduled life. We heard recently that, among other things, she has been canning and cleaning up a storm. Our very best wishes go out to her on her retirement.
Thanks, Vivian, for your many years of service to the Episcopal Home.
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exerpted from
Unsung Heroes: A Letter to Activities Directors
- Alyssa Gagliarti
"Thank you for being you. You are genuine, caring, passionate, and unrelenting in your journey to help others. You wear the many hats of your job with grace and humility, and you always put your residents first. You take the time to get to know each and every resident. You don’t simply clock in, clock out, and take your paycheck. You’re here because you want to drastically improve the lives of the people around you.Thank you for knowing your residents, for loving them, for making the community their home. . . You find a way to make them feel safe and comfortable. Most of all, thank you for reminding us that, even in this crazy world, kindness is always just around the corner. Life is short and we’re all growing older. However, we can take comfort in knowing that wonderful people like you will be there for us when we may need you most someday."
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Members of the Board met on August 17. We updated our by-laws, reducing our board size from 15 to 11. While the majority of the Board must be members of The Episcopal Church, we also allowed for Board members who are not part of The Episcopal Church.
Fundraising and income efforts have gone well and we still need to raise more money to provide the standard of care we pride ourselves on. Some of these expenses are for building maintenance and repairs. We are grateful for the volunteers who have come to paint and redecorate areas of our facility.
The Board will host a thank-you luncheon for donors who have given at least $500 over the last two years. We are excited to meet these supporters and to show them this wonderful living space.
During 2020, the Board is looking forward to a workshop and consultation with Lori Jacobwith of Ignited Fundraising. Ms. Jacobwith will help us strengthen our fundraising efforts.
Members of the board are attending the fall convocation meetings to talk about and garner support for our resolution to be voted upon at the 2019
Diocesan Convention
.
Members of the board will staff tables at upcoming community events. There will be an information table at Kipona in Harrisburg over Labor Day weekend and at Canal Days in Newport on the first Saturday in October.
Rebecca Myers and David Luo have agreed to serve for another 3-year term on the board, beginning January, 2020. The vote on this slate will be held at the November meeting. An open house to recruit additional leadership for the Board and committees is being planned for next May. Board members going off the Board – Barbara Cross, Judy Funk, Gerry Garber, and Harry Snell -- have agreed to continue to serve on committees of the Board when their terms end this year.
-The Rev. Rebecca Myers, President
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EPISCOPAL HOME
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Rev. Rebecca Myers, President
Nativity and St. Stephen, Newport
Barbara Cross
St. John's, Carlisle
Judy Funk
St. Luke's, Mt. Joy
Gerry Garber
St. Stephen's Cathedral
Deacon Jack Hoffer
Trinity, Tyrone
The Rev. Barbara Hutchinson
EH Chaplain
Lisa Loring
St. Stephen's Cathedral
David Luo
St. Andrew's, Ship.
Kathy Magaro
St. Andrew's, Ship.
Jane Miller
St. James, Lancaster
Jo Mitchell
Mt. Calvary, Camp Hill
The Rev. Jim Robertson
St. Paul's, Bloomsburg
The Rt. Rev. Audrey Scanlan
Bishop
Mary Grace Shearer
Executive Director, EH
Harry Snell
St. Andrew's, York
Sophia Ann Talbot
Mt. Calvary, Camp Hill
Jeffrey Thoms
All Saints, Hershey
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September 7 - 2:00
Baking Club
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September 9 & 23 - 11:00
Milan & Casey
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September 12 - 4:30
Supper out at
The Wheelhouse
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September 18
Civic Club Luncheon
Residents served lunch in rooms
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September 21 - 2:00
Group walk at
Laurel Lake
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Healthy Aging Month is an annual observance month designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older.
“...it’s not too late to take control of your health, it’s never too late to get started on something new. Why not think about the positive aspects of aging instead of the stereotypes and the negative aspects?”
- C
arolyn Worthington, editor in chief
, Healthy Aging
magazine
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We enjoyed a terrific visit from the youth of the Harrisburg Convocation. These young people helped out with chores in the morning, and then parrticipated in a lively game of table bowling with our residents in the afternoon.
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Our Baking Club is always whipping up something delicious for dessert.
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Some of our ladies had a good chat while snapping green beans to be served for dinner.
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Playing the Numbers Game is a popular activity.
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A special treat is watching movies while enjoying popcorn and a beverage.
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Your financial gifts help our residents who need financial assistance.
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You now have the option of making automatic online donations
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We always appreciate receiving items from our current wish list:
Postage Stamps
'Depends' Undergarments (size L)
Unscented Tide Free & Gentle laundry detergent
Unscented dryer sheets
Large print word find books
Sponsor a visit or special activity
Contact Mary Grace
(717) 532-4612
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The Episcopal Home is a place where residents receive friendship, spiritual nurture, rest, recreation and excellent physical care in a peaceful setting which allows them to live in a place of safety, warmth and love. The Home is able to care for those with limited financial means because parishes of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania support the facility. Through the ministry of the Episcopal Home, the Church is engaged in God's mission to value life and care for others.
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