ment coordinator Melissa Bergant men- tioned her concern for the seniors impacted by the tainted drinking water in Flint, re- calls Pat Rowe, Wescourt general manager. “Melissa’s specific concern was for poten- tial medication interactions with the lead in the water.” Residents shared her concerns and saw an opportunity to help, collecting money and cases of donated water. “With the money collected, I was able
to negotiate a deal from a local business to purchase even more water,” says Bergant. “Nine of our residents drove down to Flint alongside the U-Haul we rented to carry the 159 cases of water they had gathered. We split the donation between a Flint nursing home and the city’s senior center.” Overall, Holiday has seen countless ben-
efits of the Seniors Serving Seniors & Soci- ety program—some of them unexpected. Gosselin points to resident Lois Horn as one example. A resident at Highland Estates in Cedar Park, Texas, Horn, who is in her 90s, took the initiative to teach “Knit and Stitch” classes to other residents in her community. “Moving into a senior living community
can be an emotional process for seniors and their families. When Lois first arrived, she wasn’t in a hurry to get involved—she was a little more timid and reserved,” says Gosse- lin. “Now she’s really found her place in the community by teaching classes and using knitting to connect with fellow residents.” But even more—now that Horn’s stu-
dents are more proficient, the class has started knitting items for neighbors in need outside the community. So far, the knitting group has hand-knit hats for adult cancer patients and children at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, and knit purple hats to raise awareness for shaken baby syndrome. “They have truly impacted people’s lives,” says Gosselin. One resident’s passion is all that’s needed for a program like Knit and Stitch to thrive. Holiday’s list of volunteering successes is
long and varied and it’s worth noting the positive impact on residents’ health and well-being. This commitment to commu- nity engagement plays an essential role in supporting the company’s overall culture. “Upon entering a Holiday community, visi-
tors feel a sense of warmth and welcoming. It is our compassion. Our connection. This connection between Holiday associates and residents is a bond that is difficult to put into words or images. This value we offer is hard to describe,” but ultimately the goal is “to make sure our residents open a new chapter when they join our communities and con- tinue to live life,” says Gosselin. MorningStar Senior Living team mem-
bers would wholeheartedly agree. The com- pany has also made “giving back” part of its overall company culture—both for the company as a whole and for individual team members and residents. MorningStar staff and residents invest their time and talents in charitable projects within their own cit- ies and around the world. From Operation Christmas Child to the Walk to End Al- zheimer’s, MorningStar staff and residents are participating in a number of activities that inspire and support others. Among the more impactful initiatives has
been an annual trip to the Casa Bernabe orphanage in a remote village in Nicaragua. On the most recent trip, several staff mem-
Holiday Retirement’s Vineyard Place school supply drive in September 2016. ISSUE 1 2017 /
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