Gardening and Visiting with Elders
Hi all,
I’d like to let you know of another wonderful opportunity to touch the lives of our neighbors. As you know, we have been in conversation with the Midwest Covenant Home in Stromsburg about volunteering to spend some time gardening and visiting with the elders in residence during the summer months. Although the majority of our time has been spent bringing life to the Swede Haven Community Garden nearby, the residents of MCH have never been far from our hearts.
On Monday, July 6th at 7pm, we will begin spending evenings with the elders each Monday and Thursday over the next few months – helping them tend the flowers and vegetables in their containers and raised beds, followed by reading aloud some short stories from Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul and perhaps some current events from the newspapers. I believe this will be a very positive experience for the elders: a chance to be active, to garden, and to reminisce about their owning gardening experiences.
The nights we have planned for July and August are:
Monday, July 6 Thursday, July 9
Monday, July 13 Thursday, July 16
Monday, July 20 Thursday, July 23
Monday, July 27 Thursday, July 30
Monday, August 3 Thursday, August 6
Monday, August 10 Thursday, August 13
Monday, August 17 Thursday, August 20
Monday, August 24 Thursday, August 27
Monday, August 31
Although I will plan to be there most evenings, it would be great to have additional volunteers to create more opportunities for interaction with the elders. I’m guessing we’ll have between 8 to 12 elders on most nights, and the Activities Director assured me that, barring extreme heat, the residents can spend the entire time outdoors. I’d guess most evenings the activities will last an hour or maybe a bit more.
Please let me know if any of these activities interest you (watering, weeding, chatting, reading aloud, etc), and what nights you’d like to join in.
Again, thanks for all you do for our neighbors through A Place at the Table.
Blessings,
Jason