Sometimes as people age, they experience loss of community. Studies have shown how loneliness and lack of interaction can negatively affect the mental and physical health of older adults. However, for those living at Mountain View Terrace, not only are they finding opportunities for growing personal connections with neighbors, they are experiencing the joy of giving and receiving in these unprecedented times.
A
s coronavirus protocols took effect, residents were facing not being able
to share Easter dinner with loved ones and friends. On Good Friday, residents were blessed when their neighbors Dave and Darlene Flaud and their children showed up with food boxes for every household. Te boxes came from Blessings of Hope, a group that works to empower ministries, organizations and individuals to reach persons within the community through food and acts of loving kindness. Jane Wilt, Community Manager, was there to organize the distribution, and Ed Kaminski, Director of Landis Quality Living, was there to add some chocolate treats into each box as well!
Another gift came to the community when Welsh Mountain Home team members walked across the street to Mountain View Terrace bringing handmade face coverings so all residents could be safer when they went out for needed trips for food and medical visits. Te brightly-colored face coverings not only helped residents feel safer, they also brightened the hallways and parking lot.
Meaningful connections continued when Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community began offering similar food boxes each week. One member of that church is a resident at Mountain View Terrace and noted some of her fellow residents could benefit from the boxes. Al Stoltzfus, who serves as Pastor of Discipleship & Outreach at Weaverland, commented, “Te response surprised and blessed us. She began sharing about these
boxes with her neighbors and friends. Another member of the church began taking the boxes to the apartments and was available to talk and pray with residents while using appropriate social distancing.”
Tat led to a “paying it forward” idea from some of the residents. Tey knew the person who had been cleaning the common areas of Mountain View Terrace was struggling to make ends meet. Tey gathered together and started a collection of food and other items to give to her.
Life at Mountain View Terrace may have changed, as it has everywhere, but what has not changed is the value placed on cultivating meaningful life for all who live in the beauty of community on the Welsh Mountain.
Landis.org | FLOURISH | Summer 2020 • 17
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